380 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



468. Sorghum poisoning. Many instances are on 

 record of the poisoning of cattle from feeding on the grow- 

 ing plants of both saccharine and non-saccharine sorghums. 

 This injury is due to the formation of prussic acid in the 

 plants, particularly in the leaves, under certain conditions. 

 The poison is produced by the action of an enzyme on one 

 or more of the normally occurring glucosides in the plant. 

 The amount of prussic acid in sorghum usually decreases 

 as the plant matures. The condition that favors the devel- 

 opment of prussic acid in sorghum is a stunted growth of 

 the plants produced by hot, dry weather. It is also claimed 

 that young plants of vigorous growth contain a higher 

 content of prussic acid than plants reaching maturity. 

 Cutting poisonous sorghum and allowing it to wilt will 

 eliminate the poisonous property. Sorghum that has been 

 stunted by hot, dry weather should be pastured with great 

 caution. 



