CULTURAL METHODS FOR SORGHUMS 321 



raised in the part of the State having heaviest rainfall, 

 and sorghum in the drier part. 



West of the 25-inch-rainfall line, grain sorghums will 

 equal or outyield corn. The advantage increases as rain 

 decreases. Yields of twelve to twenty bushels of grain 

 sorghum are often harvested when corn is a failure from 

 drought. Twenty bushels per acre is considered an aver- 

 age crop and forty bushels per acre a good crop. Yields 

 of seventj' bushels have been known. 



GROWING SORGHUMS FOR FORAGE 



253. Sweet sorghums are used more extensively when 

 grown primarily for forage than are the non-saccharine. 



Since the foliage of all sorghums remains green until 

 the heads are mature, a fair quality of coarse forage is 

 secured when sorghums are grown for grain. About one- 

 half the sorghum crop is sown primarily for fodder, to be 

 cut before heads are ripe and cured as fodder or hay. 



254. Time of planting. — In the Gulf States sorghum 

 is often sown early so that the crop may be cut two or 

 three times, though sowing may continue for several 

 months. In the Central States sowing is usually after 

 corn planting, generally in the month of June. 



255. Rate of planting. — Sorghum for forage is either 

 sown thick in drill rows about 3 feet apart and cultivated, 

 or sown close, either broadcast or with the grain drill. 



When sown in rows to be cultivated, the methods are 

 similar to those for growing grain except that about 15 

 pounds of seed per acre is used instead of 2 to 5 pounds. 



When sown broadcast, one to two bushels per acre of 

 seed are used ; the thinner sowing is done on poorer land 

 or in a dry climate, and the thicker seeding under the most 

 favorable conditions. 



