Sorghum-growin g.
Sorghum is a drought-resistant crop largely grown in the southern and southwestern United States, and to some extent in other sections, for forage and for the production of syrup. The for age is used as fodder, hay, silage, pasture or for soiling. Sorghum out-yields the best varieties of fodder corn in the South, and is generally con sidered superior to them for forage production. In the corn-belt it is little grown as a forage crop, but formerly was extensively used in the produc tion of syrup. The use of sorghum for this latter purpose has rapidly decreased in the last few years owing to the presence on the market of large quantities of cheap glucose syrups, until now the sorghum-syrup industry is an unimportant one.
Soils.—Sorghum is not particular as to soils ; it does well on any rich, well-drained land, but gives best returns on sandy barns or clay learns. As the crop is comparatively a surface feeder, it responds readily to manuring. It has an extensive root system, however, and produces fairly good crops on poor land. Sorghum draws heavily on the moisture and plant-food in the surface soil, and so should not be followed by fall-sown crops. The prevalent idea that this crop is "hard on the land" is largely due to the bad physical condition in which it leaves the soil. If the land is plowed in the fall and put in good condition, the following crop should not be materially lessened because of the sorghum which preceded it.
Fertilizers.—For the production of forage, barn yard manure and the use of leguminous fertilizers, such as cowpeas, give best results. In semi-arid sections the manure should be well distributed, as large lumps will cause the soil to dry out very rapidly, with consequent injury to the crop. If a green-manuring crop is used, it should be plowed in some time before the sorghum is planted, in order that the ground may become well settled and in good condition to retain moisture.
Preparation of the land.—No special preparation is necessary for this crop other than that given for corn. The land should be thoroughly plowed some
weeks before planting, preferably in the fall. A few days before planting time it should be disked and harrowed until the surface is fine and mellow. The young plants grow very slowly, so that land reasonably free from weed seed should be used, and harrowing just before the seed is planted is desir able to kill any weeds which may have started.
Varieties.—The best known varieties of the sac charine sorghums are Amber (Fig. 810), Orange (Fig. 811) and Sumac (Fig. 812). Of these, Amber is the earliest, and produces a fair amount of for age . Orange and Sumac are later in maturing and yield more heavily. All make good syrup, Amber being most popular in the North, because of its earliness. Sumac is most largely grown in the Southwest, while Orange is the prevailing sort in many sections in the southern and central states.
Seeding.—When the crop is to be used for hay or pasture the seed is sown either broadcast or with a grain drill, using one-half to two bushels to the acre. The larger quantity is used in the south ern states ; the smaller one in regions of light rainfall. If the seed is sown with a grain drill, all or only a part of the holes may be used. For silage and soiling, and for fodder and syrup as well, it is customary to plant in rows three to four feet apart, using special sorghum plates in a corn- or cotton-planter, and planting six pounds to one-half bushel of deed per acre.
Caltivation.—When planted in rows, sorghum should be cultivated the same as corn. One or two harrowings lengthwise of the rows soon after planting will aid in keeping down the weeds, and this treatment should be continued until the plants are large enough to enable the use of any of the ordinary cultivators. After that time the crop should be handled like corn. If the weeds have been allowed to get a start, hoeing in the rows may be necessary. If the seed is sown in drills, harrowing a few days after seeding is often of benefit in checking the growth of weeds.