SUDAN GRASS 



SUDAN GRASS, a native of Egypt, was first brought to this country 

 in 1909 under the name of "Garawi" through Mr. R. Hewison, 

 Director of Agriculture and Lands of the Sudan Government at Khar- 

 toom. 



It appears that the Forage Crop Division of the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment of the United States was making an effort to secure a drouth- 

 resisting Johnson grass without the very objectionable root-stock 

 characteristic of the variety so generally grown in the South, Among 

 the various packages of seed received from foreign countries was one 

 that contained seed which proved to be Sudan grass. 







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Sudan Grass on the Deere Homewood Farm 



Sudan grass is a sorghum containing only a small quantity of sugar; 

 however, enough to give it a decidedly sweetish taste. The stems are 

 small, rarely being larger than an ordinary lead pencil; the plant grows 

 to a height of from five to ten feet, and has a very prolific growth of 

 leaves and a flower cluster from six to twelve inches long. Unlike other 

 grasses, the seed does not shell easily when thoroughly ripe. In this 

 particular it is like other sorghums. The roots are not objectionable, 

 as they do not have the root stock as is the case with Johnson grass. 

 The plant is an annual; hence, there is no danger of its becoming ob- 

 noxious as a weed. 



While Sudan grass is being grown in practically every section of the 

 United States, it does not flourish at high altitudes nor in the extreme 



