GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 111 



These sorghums are discussed more fully under " Cereal Grains " 

 (Chapter XVI). Second-growth kafir corn and other grain sor- 

 ghums sometimes have poisonous properties, under similar condi- 

 tions, as in "the case of second-growth sweet sorghum, and must be 

 fed with great care in the green condition (Fig. 14) . 8 



Sudan grass (Andropogon sorghum var.) has been recently 

 introduced into southern States. It is an annual, drought-resistant 

 plant, closely related to the sorghums. It resembles Johnson grass 

 somewhat in appearance, but, unlike this grass, it has no root- 

 stocks and is not, therefore, likely to become a pest. Sudan grass' 

 makes an excellent quality of hay, giving two or three cuttings in 

 a season. The yields obtained will range from two to eight tons 

 per acre, according to climatic and soil conditions. It is well suited 

 for use as a soiling crop and may also prove valuable for the silo. 

 It is greatly relished by all classes of farm stock, especially horses, 

 cattle and sheep. This grass promises to be of special value to 

 southern agriculture and in irrigated regions as a forage to be fed 

 supplementary to alfalfa. 7 



Millets. — The millets are annual forage plants. They are rarely 

 grown for the sake of the seed in this country, as is the case in 

 Asia, where millet seed is a common grain crop. They include a 

 very large number of different species.* Those grown in this country 

 may be separated into four groups : The foxtail or common millet, 

 broom-corn, barnyard, and pearl millets. The most important of 

 the millets for stock feeding are the German millet and the Hun- 

 garian grass, both of which belong to the group of foxtail millets. 

 Millets are essentially hot-weather grasses and are drought-resistant, 

 which renders them especially valuable hay crops under semi-arid 

 conditions. They are grown chiefly in central western States, like 

 Kansas, Nebraska,, and Missouri for the purpose of supplementing 

 the hay crop. Under favorable moisture conditions they will yield 

 from three to five- tons of cured hay per acre. They should be cut 

 as soon as the blossoms appear ; on account of the small, hard seeds 

 and woody stems they make an unsatisfactory feed if the cutting is 

 delayed till a later stage of growth. Cut early and fed in moderate 

 amounts, the millets make a valuable hay for horses, cattle, and 

 sheep. They should not be fed exclusively or for long periods 

 at a time to horses, as they are likely to cause digestive and other 

 troubles in that case. The millets do not differ greatly, in chemical 



"Farmers' Bui. 288; Kan. Bui. 198. 



'Farmers' Bui. 605 and 1126; Okla. Bui. 103 and 115; Texas Bui. 172; 

 Ohio Monthly Bui. Mar., 1916; Md. Bui. 194; Kan. Bui. 212; la. Res. 

 Bui. 46; Cal. Cir. 277; U. S. Dept. Agr. Cir. 50. 



