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J. STECKLER SEED CO., LTD., ALMANAC AND 



Descriptive Iiist of the Different Varieties of the 



SORGHUM FAMILY. 



SUITAEI.X: FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



For Prices See Red Fag-es in Eack of Book. 



SORGHUM — Is planted for feeding- stock during- the Spring 

 and early Summer. For this purpose it should be sown as early 

 in Spring- as possible in drills about two to three feet apart; one 

 peck per acre. It makes excellent green fodder. As a forage 

 plant for early cutting-, to be fed to stock, we do not think that 

 anything- is equal to the Early Improved Pedigreed Amber Sor- 

 ghum, such as we have been selling- for years. After several 

 cuttings the branching- varieties of Sorg-hum, also called Millo 

 Maize, may be preferable, but more so for seed than forage. The 

 Teosinte will give more fodder than any of the Sorg-hums. Some 

 varieties not before described and rather new are the following-; 

 White and Yellow Millo Maize or Branching Dhouro should be 

 planted in four or five foot rows and two to three feet in the 

 drills, according to the strength of the land. The cultivation is 

 like corn. It gives an abundance of leaves and seed; the latter 

 are grood for fowls. 



EARIiY ORANGE SORGHUM. — Equally as valuable as the 



Amber for forage, but on account of longer growth is consid- Early Improved 



ered better for syrup making; about 10 days later than the Pedigreed Amher 



Amber. Culture the same as the Amber. Sorg-hum. 



EARI.Y IMPROVED PEDIGREED 

 AMBER SORGHUM. — More popular than 

 ever for forage. Relished in its green 

 state or cured, by all stock, on account of 

 sweetness of stalk and leaves. Equals in 

 value any other crop known. Makes g-ood 

 syrup, but as the stalk is smaller than the 

 Orange, that variety is recommended when 

 the intention is to grow for syrup. 12 1^ 

 pounds of seed will plant an acre. Plant 

 at any time from April to last of July in 

 rows 3 feet apart, 6 to 10 seed, 12 to 18 

 inches apart in the row, or drill lightly; 

 can be sown broadcast; % bushel per acre. 



RED TOP, OR SUMAC SORGHUM. — 



Stems sweeter and juicier than other 

 sorghums. Seeds smallest of all and go 

 further in planting-. Head erect, dark red 

 in color. Yields about five tons per acre 

 of forage. Seeds roundish and clean 

 usually of hull. Medium early, 90 to 100 

 days; 7 to 10 feet hig-h. Leads all vari- 

 eties in portions of Tennessee, and in 

 North Georgia, and in these sections for 

 syrup and forage universally used and 

 preferred, 



RURAI. BRANCHING SORGHUM OR 

 MIIiIiO MAIZE. — Produces the seed heads 

 upright in a vertical position, while others 

 are drooping. The seeds are smaller, but 

 will keep longer than the other varieties, 

 the stalk grows very large and produces a 

 good many larg-e leaves. It suckers and 

 tillers more and more the oftener it is cut. 

 It exceeds g-reatly in yield of g-reen fodder 

 any of the familiar fodder plants except 

 the "Teosinte." It should be planted ex- 

 clusively in the drill four feet apart, 18 to 

 20 inches in the drills. One peck per acre. 



GUINEA GRASS.— Although this grass 

 will do well on rather poor sandy land, it 

 does much better on richer or fertilized 

 land. Wherever it has had proper care the 

 crop is enormous and satisfactory. A 

 tropical grass originally from Africa, it is 

 now grown largely in the East and West 

 Indies. In Jamaica it is held next to sugar 

 in value of crop, a single farmer producing 

 five thousand dollars worth per annum of 

 the hay. Propagated to any desired extent 



by rapid increase of tillers, it is esteemed 

 in Florida and other parts of the South as 

 a first-class forage. Cattle eat it with 

 avidity, green or dry. Three pounds to the 

 acre, planted in hills same as corn. 



JERUSAI.EM CORN. — This belongs to 

 the non-saccharine Sorghums. Grows 

 about three feet high. Makes one large 

 head on main stalk and several smaller 

 heads on side shoots, often as many as 

 eight heads on one stalk. The grain is 

 pure white and nearly flat. Ten pounds 

 will plant an acre. 



WHITE KAFFIR CORN. — (SorgThTun 



Eaffrorom). — This is a variety of Sor- 

 ghum non-saccharine and distinctly dif- 

 fering in habit of growth and other char- 

 acteristics from all others of that class. 

 The plant is low, stalks perfectly erect; 

 the foliage is wide, alternately closing on 

 either side of the stalks. It does not stool 

 from the root, but branches from the top 

 joints, producing from two to four heads 

 of grain from each stalk. The heads are 

 long, narrow, and perfectly erect, well 

 filled with white grain, which at maturity 

 is slightly flecked with red or reddish 

 brown spots. Weight 50 pounds per 

 bushel. The average height of growth on 

 good strong land, 5V2 to 6 feet; on thin or 

 poor land, iV2 to 5 feet. The stalk is 

 stout, never blown about by winds, never 

 tangles, and is always manageable, easily 

 handled. A boy can gather the grain heads 

 or fodder. The seed heads grow from 10 

 to 12 inches in length, and product of grain 

 on good land easily reaches 50 to 60 

 bushels per acre. It may be planted in 

 the latter part of March or early in April. 

 It bears earlier planting than other Millets 

 or Sorghums. It should be put in rows not 

 over three feet apart, even on the best 

 land, and it bears thicker planting than 

 any other variety of Sorghum; should be 

 massed in the drill on good land, for either 

 green or forage purposes. Ten pounds per 

 acre. 



RED KAFFIR CORN. — The same gen- 

 eral description as the White Kaflir Corn, 

 except the color of seeds, which are red. 



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