22 
STANDARD SEED COMPANY 
SUDAN GRASS 
FOR HAY AND PASTURE 
Best Time to Sow Is Two Weeks After Corn 
Sudan Grass is a quick-growing 
annual grass requiring a little long¬ 
er growing season than the millets 
but attaining a greater height and 
producing a considerably heavier 
yield of forage. Throughout the 
corn belt it is the most valuable 
grass catch crop, used for hay, pas¬ 
ture and occasionally for silage. It 
may be grown wherever Soy Beans 
thrive. It requires a fairly rich, 
loamy soil, but is quite resistant to 
drought and is the most dependable 
pasture crop during dry weather. 
As hay it is fully equal to Timothy 
and is relished by stock. 
The seed should not be sown un¬ 
til the soil is thoroughly warm; it 
is safest to wait until about two 
weeks after corn planting time. 
Good results are obtained from 
seedings made any time from then 
on up to the first week in July in 
the general latitude of the corn 
belt. 
SUDAN GRASS for HAY 
The seed may be broadcast or 
drilled. The crop may be cut any 
time after it has attained a height 
of about 3 feet up to the stage 
when the seed is in the “milk.” If 
cut early the hay is more easily 
cured and a second and even a 
third cutting may sometimes be ob¬ 
tained. Late cut hay, on the other 
hand, is fully as nutritious and, 
even though a second growth is not 
secured, the total yield is fully as 
large. Best results, all things con¬ 
sidered, seem to be secured by cut¬ 
ting about the time the first heads 
appear, which stage is reached 60 
to 80 days after sowing. As a prac¬ 
tical consideration, the crop may be 
cut whenever weather conditions 
and other work on the farm make 
it convenient. If the hay is well 
cured, there is no danger from 
feeding it to any kind of stock. It 
should be allowed to stand in cocks 
long enough for the stems to be¬ 
come thoroughly dry; the stems are 
very juicy and take longer than the 
leaves to cure. 
SUDAN GRASS for 
PASTURAGE 
As an emergency pasture during 
dry spells, Sudan Grass has few 
equals. Stock may be turned in as 
soon as the plants are 2 feet high. 
Where it is practicable to do so, 
the field may be divided in half and 
the halves pastured alternately, 
changing every two or three weeks. 
Sudan Grass is an excellent milk 
producer and will support from one 
to three cows per acre, depending 
on conditions, for two or three 
months. It is not advisable to pas¬ 
ture cattle on Sudan Grass which 
has been, as rarely happens, in¬ 
jured by drought, on account of 
danger of poisoning. There is no 
danger of poisoning horses, sheep 
or hogs. 
For pasture purposes, the seed is 
broadcast or sown with a grain 
dril. 
SUDAN GRASS for 
SILAGE 
Sudan Grass silage is about equal 
in feeding value to corn silage. 
However, on account of the ease 
with which Sudan Grass may be 
cured for hay or fed green, it is 
doubtful if it will ever be widely 
grown for ensilage purpeses. Best 
silage crops are secured by drilling 
the seed in rows wide enough apart 
for cultivation, and giving the same 
frequent, shallow, level cultivation 
as for corn. 
SUDAN GRASS for SEED 
When grown for seed, highest 
yields are secured by sowing in 
rows and cultivating like corn. Har¬ 
vest when nearly ripe with a grain 
or row binder and cure in the shock 
like grain. The seed may be thresh¬ 
ed with an ordinary grain thresher, 
taking care to regulate the air blast. 
Sudan Grass crosses with Sorghum 
readily, so should not be grown 
near Sorghum if the seed is to 
be saved. 
