I . S. DEPAR I MEN I OF AGRICULTURE. Bl i;i \l I M PL W I [NDU8TR"\ Circulai Mo 12 • \\ li I I \\i v TAYLOR, Chief oi Bun SUDAN GRASS, A NEW DROUGHT-RESISTANT 11A\ PLANT. B1 C. V. PIPER ttologist in Charg< of Forage-t rop ; 32199 »^»INl.TO* : GOVERNMENT PBINTINO OfTKE : 1*11 BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. Chief uf Bureau, William A. Tailor. Assistant Chief of Bureau, L. C. Corbhtt. Editor, .1. ]•;. Rockwell. Chief Clerk, James E. Jones. ICir. 125] 2 II I'. I SUDAN GRASS, A NEW DROUGHT-RESISTAN' II. W PLANT. INTRODUCTION. For several years past, beginning with L906, the writer and his assistants made ;i careful study of Johnson grass with the view of finding n strain lacking the underground rootstocks which make .lohii-nn grass so objectionable. While variations in this character were found, no single plant was detected which had the rootstocks wholly absent. Coincident with these studies packages <>!' Johnson grass seed were obtained from various foreign sources, in pari with the assistance of the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant [ntroduction. Among those received are two other varieties bearing rootstocks like Johnson grass but differing in other characters, and tw<> very distinct varieties thai have the rootstocks wholly absent. The first of the lat- ter was received in L909 under the name "garawi," through Mr. K. Hewison, Director of Agriculture and Lands of the Sudan Govern- ment at Khartum. After growing this Tor one season at Chillicothe. Tex., it was inventoried as Seed and Plant [ntroduction No. 25017. In further correspondence with Mr. Hewison some additional in- formation has been secured. 'The Sudan botanists were under the impression that garawi is a form of Andropogon hcilejH nsis, or John- son grass. According to Mr. Hewison, the following note appears in Broun's Catalogue of Sudan Flowering Plant-: Andropogon halepenrta Brot. Adder or Adra (wild variety) and Garawi (cultivated), Arab. Tali grass cultivated for fodder. The seeds are eaten In times of scarcity. When wild it grows i" a height of 12 feel and is found In damp localities along the river banks or edges of pools, Pound in Sennar, White Nile, mid Kordofan. Whether the wild plant is the same as the cultivated Mr. Hewison i- not sure, and promised specimens have not yet been received. In Sudan, garawi i- cultivated only to a limited extent, mainly at the experiment station and at military hay farms, two cuttings of hay being secured there each season under irrigation. The seed was brought to Sudan from Egypt, where it i- also cultivated to some extent under the same name. It i- probable that it i- the grass that all writer- on Egyptian botany have called AndTOpogofi 'i'il' /» ' [Or. 11'.-. 1 4 SUDAN GRASS. The exact nativity of garawi is still a matter of doubt, nor is it clear thai genuine Andropogon halepensis occurs in the same region. A few plants of garawi lived over the winter of 1911—12 at Gaines- ville, Fla.. without, however, forming any rootstocks. The second variety was received on December 2. 1 ( .>0 ( .), from Dr. L. Trabut, Algiers, Algeria, and given S. P. I. No. 26301. Dr. Trabut's original notes are as follows: This t. r niss is vigorous but not stoloniferous and would be interesting for hybridization wiili sorghum. It is moderately good forage like Johnson jn\-iss. but has the advantage of not stooling (i. e., sucker ing). This variety is per- ennial here and produces many seeds. Under the conditions in the United States this variety has behaved purely as an annual. In further correspondence with Dr. Trabut, he writes that he believes this grass to he common in Africa and that he has received it from the arid regions between Algiers and Senegal. The two varieties are quite distinct from each other and the name "Sudan grass" has been given to S. P. I. No. 25017 and "Tunis grass" to S. P. I. No. 26301. Botanically, they are both to be con- sidered varieties of Andrqpogon sorghum and not of Aiulropogon halepensis, as the three known varieties of the latter all have vigorous underground rootstocks. Trials at numerous places have demon- strated that Sudan «rass promises high value for hay. especially in the semiarid regions where no perennial grass has thus far been found suited to the conditions. Indeed, it is not too much to predict that it is there destined to become the leading grass for hay production. Un- der more humid conditions Sudan grass has also succeeded admirably and it will probably replace the foxtail millets to a large extent, as it produces better hay and usually larger yields. Tunis grass has not as yet been widely tested, owing to lack of seed. It is slower in start- ing growth and less tall than Sudan grass. As it shatters its seed very readily it is likely to be of only limited usefulness unless this character can be changed. Sudan grass has been tested most carefully in Texas (fig. 1) and at Arlington Farm, Virginia, but at least one year's trial has been made at many places in the Great Plains and at various agricultural experiment stations. There is still much to be learned in regard to the crop, but the data at hand indicate approximately the best methods of culture. Sudan grass is a sorghum and requires practi- cally the same temperature conditions as that crop. It is. however, earlier than any sorghum yet known and will probably mature in Montana and North Dakota, as it ripened seed in 1912 at Brook- ings, S. Dak. Individual plants of Sudan grass under favorable conditions will attain a height of S to 10 feet and may possess 20 or more stalks to a plant. The stems seldom become larger than a lead pencil, even [CIr. 125] BUDAN URA •> in the largest plants. Brondcnsted or drilled the height average • to i feet, and the stem9 are mucli finer. The stems are mostly mi branched, stricth erect, and decidedlj leafy, very much more so than Johnson grass. The sugar content is small, but enough t<> give ;i decided sweetish taste. The flower cluster is loose and open, pyram- idal in form, and G to 12 inches long. There is practically n<> shattei ing of 1 he seed at mal mil \ . SEEDING SUDAN GRASS. Sudan grass maj be sown broadcast, drilled, or in cultivated rows. Where there is sufficient moisture, broadcasting or drilling is prefer Fi' . I.— Fields of Sudan 11 if u 1 1 i \ .it. d row tin- li-ft. broadcasted able; otherwise the grass is likely to be coarse. In seeding this way 3 pecks of seed to the acre should be used. Under conditions <>t" light rainfall Sudan grass is probably best sown in cultivated rows, though excellent results have been secured in dry regions from broadcasting. In rows 36 inches wide, I pounds sow in 18-inch rows and cultivate. This is especiall} desirable where the land is very weedy. The grass grown under such conditions does nol become t"»> coarse, and, furthermore, the dense shade kills <>ut the weeds. Five pounds of seed t<> the acre should be used when thus sown. 6 SUDAN GRASS. FEEDING VALUE OF SUDAN GRASS. All reports agree on the high palatability of Sudan grass, either green or cured. At Chillicothe, Tex., the farm horses even ate readily the straw from which the seed had been thrashed. Until reeding experiments can be conducted no definite statement of the compara- tive feeding value of this grass can be made. Table I shows the analyses of a series of hay samples cut at various dates at Arlington Farm. Virginia, in 1912. Perhaps the most interesting feature shown is the close comparison of the mature straw with hay cut at earlier stages. Table I. — Analyses of Siutim grass grown fit Arlington Farm, Virginia, in 1912, cut determine whether other factors are operal ive. In the humid regions the results are no! so uniformly satisfactory, ami the future of the grass east of the LOOth meridian can nol be forecasted with confidence until much further evidence is available. \ fiw packages of seed were also senl in L911 and L912to farmers for practical trials. The reports of several of these trials are cited as indicative of the value of the grass, and some of them are valuable uggesting critical experiments. BESULTS OF TESTS AT CHTLLICOTHE. Sudan grass was Bret tested ;it Chillicothe, Tex., in L909, ;i single row being grown and all the seed saved. In L910 this seed was planted in 30-inch row- on seven-fifteenths of an acre of land. Though the season was exceedingly dry it grew to a height of I t" I' feet. A small portion of the plat, one-fifteenth of an acre, was cut fi r hay and yielded two cuttings. From the remainder, l".l pounds of -red were secured in two pickings, which is at the rate of : > : '--"> pounds per acre. In 1911, plats wen- planted June I on newly broken sod land from which two cuttings of hay were secured, each larger than the one cutting of German millet grown alongside. The total rainfall from April 1 to November 1 was 1 I inches. The drought conditions of the season were such that both milo and kafir produced only about one- fourth of a normal grain yield. During the 9eason of 1912 more detailed results were secured. Pour cuttings of hay were obtained from a one-tenth acre plat, drilled on April 26 at the rate of :'. peek- of seed per acre. The dale and amount of each cutting are as follow-: Pound* June 22 23 I July 17 181 Au-'iiM 20 l I 180 To 8 SUDAN GBASS. This yield IS at the rate of 4.4 tons per acre. During this period the rainfall was as follows: Inches. April 2<; to 30 0. us May .52 June ___: .. 4.69 July 1. 39 August :;. 35 September __ 'i. 92 October 1 to 14 1.97 Total 15. 52 Two acres were also planted on April 20 in rows 3<> inches apart. This crop grew to an average height of C feet 4 inches and was har- vested for seed on August 3, 96 days after planting. It was a little overripe and probably 10 per cent of the seed was lost by shattering. The actual seed saved from the 2 acres was 70S pounds. By Septem- ber 20 the grass was again about 18 inches high and beginning to head, when it was cut for hay in order to plow the ground. The yield was estimated at about 1,000 pounds per acre, but it was not weighed, owing to rainy weather. Two fields of Sudan grass were grown for seed under contract with two farmers in the immediate neighborhood of Chillicothe. One farmer planted 12 pounds of seed on 13 acres in 42-inch rows and secured a yield of about 10 bushels per acre. The second farmer planted 4 pounds of seed on 2 acres in 42-inch rows and harvested 1,285 pounds of clean seed, or 15.3 bushels per acre. The seed grown on the experiment farm weighed 40 pounds to the bushel; that grown by the first-mentioned farmer. 44 pounds, and by the second, 42 pounds per bushel. In contrast the seed grown on the experiment farm in 1911 weighed but 32 pounds per bushel. RESULTS OF TESTS AT ARLINGTON FARM. At Arlington Farm, Virginia, Sudan grass was tested in 1912, both broadcasted and in 18-inch rows (figs. 2. 3. and 4). The broad- casted plats were sown on June 3 at the rate of 10 pounds of seed to the acre. The broadcasted stand was not perfect, .some comparatively sterile spots being almost bare of Sudan grass and occupied by pigeon grass. The crop in these plats grew to an average height of 5 feet. One twentieth-acre plat cut for hay on Augusi ■_'•"> yielded 280 pounds, or at the rate of 2.8 tons per acre. The second growth on this plat was 30 inches high and was beginning to head on September 20. This grew to a height of about 3 feet, but tin 1 seed was not mature when killed by frost on November 4. Nine plats of one-twentieth of an acre each were cut for seed on September 20 and yielded, on the [Cir. 125] SUDAN (ill \>>. 9 average, pounds, or 3.8 bushels per acre, onlj one fourth of t ! m- quantity Becured from the plats in rows. Fig. 2. — A broadcasted Held of Sudan l.t;i--< :it Arlington Farm, Virginia, 1012. Eighl plats of one-twentieth of an acre each were planted in 18- inch rows on June ; '> at the rate of 5 pounds seed per acre and culti- • * tftfl$&$jEk.. , 1 d^a^HnVwPQai MP ^^l%i'^BK^MMi i ^-^yaB ^* \'IM ^^ H^vb! Ero SUfSA^B^V ptw^j^^S <£& Cvfc^P^Ll^cx^. '.^"t \ i ^^jR^^h r^^^^S^L^^^HHH ■Hi ■'• — Rows of Sndan gras* at Arlington Farm, Virginia, 1912. Eacb row la grown from (ho sood of :i sincM^ plant. Tho three rows on tin'" right are typical Sndan grass, vated twictv Two of these plats cut on A.ugus1 J-"> when fully headed ami about 7 feet high yielded, respectively, 284 ami 347 |>ouud~ per plat, or at tho rate of 2.8 and 3.5 tons to the aero. Tin- could have 82190 — Or. 125— 13 -J. 10 SUDAN GRASS. been cut as early as August 10 with a very slightly smaller yield. The second growth on these two plats was over :'> feet high when killed by frost on November 4. The remaining 8 plats were harvested for seed on September 20 and yielded an average of 23 pound.- each, or 460 pounds per acre. Practically no seed was lost by shattering. The second growth in these plats was about 1 foot high when killed by frost on November 4. A late seeding was made on August 7 in rows, and this was 48 inches high and fully headed when killed by frost on November 4. There can be no doubt that by seeding not later than June 1 two full cuttings of Sudan grass for hay can be obtained each season in J_ f.J :Im&^m ifh jr » S^TH^m "T^HtmI Sft^i ^©SfsJ S '-^.■K^fe^flSp MA^Ij k^SiviSs'SAH^fl ill Pig. 4. — Sudan grass at Arlington Farm. Virginia, 1012. This is another view of the right-hand row shown in figure 3. The tall plants in the background are hybrids be- tween Sudan grass and some variety of sorghum. Virginia. The grass has shown much stronger growth in cultivated rows than when broadcasted, but it .-till remains to be determined which method is most desirable. The seed grown at Arlington Farm in 1012 weighed 3G pounds per bushel. Mixtures of Sudan grass with cowpeas and with soy beans were also tested (fig. 5). A one-tenth acre plat was broadcasted on June 11 with 3 pounds of Early Black cowpeas and 2 pounds of Sudan grass. This was cut for hay on September 6 when the Sudan grass was in bloom and the first pods of the cowpeas were fully grown. The grass was 6 to 8 feet high and the cowpea vines were of about an equal length. The plat yielded 9-2.") pounds of cured hay. about one- I (Mr. 125] SUDAN i;hass. 1 1 fourth being cow peas. This is ;ii the rate of US tons of the mixture per acre. In an adjacenl one t « * > » 1 1 » acre plat Johnson grass and cowpeas were Beeded at the same rate; thai i-. 2 pounds of Johnson grass and 3 pounds of Earl) Black cowpeas in place of Sudan grass i Eg. ."> ) . The yield <»f the mixture was 561 pounds of air-drj hay, or 2.8 tons per acre. \ imilar mixture of Sudan grass and Arlington soy beans, a twin ing variety, was sown the -a me date, using 3 pounds <>f soy beans and 2 pounds <>!' Sudan grass. Aboul one-fourth of the mixture was aoy beans, which twined aboul the grass to :i height of I to 6 feet. When PlO. Plata ;ii Irllngton r i ■ \ eowpeaa (right) and Johnson grass ai ft). cut on September 6 the Sudan grass was in bloom ;iii«l the soy-bean pods were about half grown. This mixture cured more readily than the cowpea mixture and was superior in physical quality. The yield was 888 pounds of cured haj . or at the rate of 1. 1 Ion- per acre. Figure 6 -how- a -tan. I of Tu iii- L r ra-- planted in rows a i Arlington Farm for comparison with tin- Sudan grass shown in figure 3. TESTS AT MISCELLANEOUS EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 1 1 \ 18. At the San Antonio (Tex.) Field Station Mr. S. II. Hastings tested Sudan grass :n l'.'Il and 1912 and reported a- follow-: Prom the growth of the plat tested in 191] this appears to he the mosl prom- ising grass that has heen grown at the experiment farm. Two plats w< I dr. 125] 12 SUDAN (1RASS. planted, one where 11 could be Irrigated and the other without irrigation. The plai not irrigated made a good growth and proved to l>e as drought resistant as Johnson grass, although the plat was so small that the yield would not be reliable. Only one cutting was secured from this planting. Both plats were planted on March 31 — somewhat later than is necessary. The first cutting of the irrigated plat was on July .",1 and gave a yield at the rate of 3.4!) tons per acre and a seed yield of at least 506 pounds per acre. The second cutting was made on October 10 and gave a yield of 3.11 tons per acre, making a total for the season of 6.60 tons per acre. At least three cuttings would have been secured had it been seeded earlier and the first cutting net allowed to seed, which would have increased the yield materially. In 1912 we put in a planting of Sudan grass March 15, without irrigation, and the yield from two cuttings was 5.66 tons per aire. Sorghum planted under the same conditions gave a yield of 4. OS tons. Fio. 6. — Rows of Tunis grass at Arlington Farm, Virginia, 1!)12. Note the very much thinner appearance of this grass as compared with the Sudan grass in figure :5. At College Station, Tex., a test was made in 1912 by Mr. A. B. Conner, who sent in the following report : Planted May 15 on one-fifth acre plat in rows 3 feet apart. Germination was fairly good, hut stand not as uniform as desirable. Grass made very vigorous growth up to July 1. On July 7 was just coming into full boot. On July 1", it was in full head at a height of 7 feet and presented a very vigorous appear- ance. On August 8 the plat averaged 7 feet in height, and on account of the irregular stand each plant had put out a number of culms. Some were noted with as many as 40 to 50. Plants were very leafy to the top. showing superi- ority in this respect to Johnson ;:rass. Harvested August 14 for seed and gave a yield of 57 pounds of thrashed seed. A second growth, which was produced without any rainfall, the season being exceptionally dry and not enough rain to produce a second growth on sorghums, attained a height of above 5 feet and [Cir. 1125] -i DAN 0RA88. 1 8 was harvested for seed October 23, yieldliiK ou tud« Hie total yield of I I fr tl Hi- null :i. re plat wan 115 jiounds, • ■! il tbe 3215 i nda per acre. Seed tested 1$) pounds per bushel, which gave tbe equivalent of it | bushels per acre. A tesl ai Dalhart, Tex., gave \n\ promising results, thus reported l.\ Mr. W. I'. < .i iggs: Two one-tenth uric pints "t Sudan grasa broadcast and one In rows, were ■ ini Maj '-'. 1012 iii- i i riif plnl in rows i "I stand and it was reseeded Mhj 21. li was Intended tli.u these plats !"• harvested for hay, inn owing to tbe local demand for b I among farmers it was decided in let the grass mature and harvesl 11 t"i Beed Both plats were harvested September T and gave i total yield a- follows Broadcast, 545 pounds; in rows, 562 pounds of baj per plal Tbe fonner yielded 10 pounds of seed; tbe latter, M pounds. It Is estimated thai -~> per cenl of the seed was losl in harvesting ( \i.i i ni:\ i \. The following* is a report on a trial al the Plan! [ntroduction Field Station, Chico, Gal., l>.\ Mr. Roland McKee: Two rows "i" Sudan gross, one 75 feel long and tl ther 150 feel \<>uz. were grown nt Chlco In i '. » l _. it was grown on g I loam s<>u and given Irrigation. A Dne growth was made, and withoul question ihi> Is tbe tn.i>t promising grass for growing under Irrigation in the Sacramento V'allej thai has yel i □ tried. 'l'lii- number of cuttings "t' bay thai it is possible in secure was nol determined, •s witii iinth tin- plantings :i seed crop "a- allowed to mature, bul it Beems probable thai three •- l <-nttin:-'s of bay can be made. One "i" the plantings was allowed to produce a seed crop from the flrsl growth. This was harvested bite, inn still :t good hay crop was produced after thai date. The other plant- hog was cul for bay shortly after it came Into bloom, a •_' l crop of hay was secured anil after that dnte a seed crop was matured. The following data give sunn- idea of tin- growth • •( this crop: May •_' Row 75 feel long; sown. .Inly '.> In full bloom ami is t . . 72 Inches high. .Inly 1.". Cm for hay. August •_".• Si-iniiii growth 80 i" i* 1 Inches high November l A ■_■ I crop of seed was ripe May 13 Row i"'«> feel long; sown. July In Hrsl bloom ami ::••. t.> 10 Inches high August 20 l ;;-i seed ripe. Augusl 28 7" in 80 Inches high. September li Cul for seed; is pounds secured Vield about 40 husbels per acre figured on hat >ws and •'!" i"iiiinil-- of --'I'll per bushel. November t S ml growth •"• to t feet high. 901 in i) \Kiu \. A small tesl made in L912 at Brookings, S. Dak., is thus reported by Mr. Samuel ( ran er : Three rows, •".»'■ Inches apart, each 8 rods long, were planted April 30. The bs grew very slowly during the cool spring, being onlj '■'• or I Inches high on June 10, and was m>t Injured meantime by three or four frosts. At this time warm weather began and the grass grew rapidly, maturing it- seed tClr. 125] 14 SUDAN CI! ASS. September 16. The actual amount of seed harvested from the three rows was L8.5 pounds, which is ;ii the rate of OTs pounds per acre. June V2. two rows. 36 inches apart, each 8 rods long, were planted. One row was cut for hay September 16, when 6i feel hiirli. but it should have been cut earlier. The yield of this row was 110.5 pounds, or at the rate of 6.08 tons per acre. The second row was left for seed, hut did not fully mature when killed by frost September l\ only -j pounds of mature seed being secured. OREGON. Regarding a test at the cereal station, Moro, Oreg., in 1912, Mr. I). K. Stephens gaye his experience as follows: Of the several grasses planted this spring at this station, the Sudan grass is the only one that gave good results. It was planted in rows 3J feet apart. An excellent stand resulted and it grew vigorously to a height of 4\ feet. It was cut for hay on September li»". and yielded at the rate of 1.08 tons per acre. Although we have hut this one year's results with this grass, it is the most promising one we have tried, with the possible exception of slender wheat- grass. So far as moisture is concerned, this season was a favorable one. hut if this grass can stand the usual dry weather of this Locality there is a future for it here. MINNESOTA. At the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Prof. A. C. Amy reported that Sudan grass was planted in two short rows, one S feet long, the other 6, the rows 2 feet apart. It was apparently sown thicker than it need he. for the grass is very thick in the rows and grew to an average height of 58 inches. There is a great abundance of leaves at the bottom. The stems are not very coarse and it 'nuks as though the grass might make a very good quality of bay. The cattle seem to like it green and there is apparently no reason why they should not like it cured. It is altogether probable that, cutting the crop at the right time after planting it early in the season, two crops could be secured. The new growth at the base of the roots makes me think that this would probably be the way it would turn out. 1 am not sure whether the grass will mature seed this fall or not. It depends altogether on how the frost holds off. A i'rw of the seeds were planted much thinner and they have reached a height of over 100 inches, being higher than any of our sorghum plants. Sown thin this way the stalk is quite coarse and it would not do for hay; that, of course, is not the way it is meant to be grown. WISCONSIN. From the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. Prof. A. L. Stone wrote as follows: The Sudan grass sen' us last spring for trial came a little too late to give us an opportunity to get in as large a plat of it as we would have liked to do. We put in only a single row of the grass, this row being about 60 feet long. The grass came on very nicely and headed out in tine shape. It will he Im- possible under the circumstances to make any estimate of the yield per acre. bul from its appearance I am of the opinion this grass might prove of value in some sections of the country and possibly right here in Wisconsin, although it would need some experimentation to determine whether it can compete with timothy. I like the appearance of the grass [Cir. V2o] SUDAN GRAJ 1 .") I Mil \\ \. \i the [ndiana Agricultural Experimenl Station Sudan grass \\m- nol ;i success, :i- is shown by the reporl of Mi \l. 1.. Fisher. !■• biij ii plainly, I think Sudan no) worth the room It leasl such Is its ruerll this presenl year Ii Ims I d a wel Reason anil, ol it could nol show droughl resisting qualities ii is nol al all equal i" mlllel or sorghum. The plants which l ii.i \ •■ grown this year are d tall and oever appeared n> be verj thrift] I raised - Johnson grass some few years ago and the Sudan grass seems i" be about the same tor this section as ili«' Johnson grass. I think the plnnl would no< furnlsb two cuttings In ilii-. section, although l have uol wade an efforl i" determine thai point OHIO, Ai the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station Sudan grass was tested in comparison with millets and —« »i-^rl 1 1 1 1 1 1 — . Prof. C. G. Wil- liams gave the results as follows: The yield of the Sudan grass and .1 few competitoi iir drj « Sudan grass 3 88 Hungarian millet 2 26 German mlllel •". 55 Japan barn] ard mlllel f I s Early Amber sorghum 8. 75 We di.l nol gel .1 chance to tesl them < >ni under droughty conditions, for we bad anything bui ;i drought this season. 1 am nol able to give any opinion its ability to furnish i\\" crops, as we l nol cul ii early for a si nd crop. "% ■ *i 1 Bee thai it compared very favorably with the millets. We have tested ii as to quality |HI feel long, were planted al iii«- experimenl station al Baton Rouge. The flrsl cutting \\:is made when the grass w:i- 5 to 6 feel high; the second, August 26, when l to a feel bigb; and third cutting was expected. The grass was cul each time when it was beading out Prof. Dodson estimates the first crop al :> > tun- per acre and the second al 2 tons. A pi rtion "I" 1 1 1 * • row lefl to mature failed in pro- duce seed, doubtless owing to the work of the sorghum midge. In ;i later reporl the opinion i- expressed thai " we can safely count on two ■ I cuttings :uiil one moderate cutting." OKI \ MoM V. For tlu 1 Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station Mr. A. II. Wright reported a- follow 9 : The Sudan cim>s grew well, reaching :i height of 6 t" 1 oatur- ing 8 ni 10 days earlier than any other sorghum. The plats were small, _' rows [Clr. U.-.l 16 SUDAX GRASS. in one plat covering one twenty-fifth of an acre and 6 rows in another one twenty-fill li of an acre. These were sown May 1 and harvested for seed August 1-. yielding, respectively, at the rate of 900 and 700 pounds of seed and 2.775 and 2,525 pounds of stover per acre. ALABAMA. In reference to a test at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Mr. E. F. Cauthen sent the following account: The Sudan grass was planted June 15 and was mowed for liny on August 16. We planted it alone, in connection with cowpeas, in connection with Japanese millet, and in connection with German millet. The Japanese millet is too early for the grass. The German millet fits better with this grass for hay. The ordinary cowpea seems to he a little late as a combination crop. The hay should have been cut about the 1st of August, but was left for the farmers attending the summer school to Inspect, I am inclosing a print showing the grass and cowpeas just before they were mowed. It looks to me that the Sudan grass will make a permanent bay crop for this section. I have one plat that I am saving for seed and will mow the other the second time if the grass gets sufficiently high. TENNESSEE. At the Tennessee Agricultural Exj^eriment Station one-tenth of an acre was sown broadcast. Prof. C. A. Mooers wrote as follow?: Our test with Sudan grass will not allow me to draw all the conclusions that you want. This grass rusted rather badly this year but made a fair yield, and under favorable conditions I feel sure that a second crop could be cut to advan- tage. It stood the dry weather only fairly well. Comments by Prof. Morgan and others who saw the plats are rather unfavor- able to this grass, but I think the tonnage was greater than that of millet sown at the same time. Of course, common sorghum would outyield it greatly, but the difficulty with which it is cured hardly enables us to make a fair compari- son between the two. I may add that some Rhodes grass planted at the same time far outyielded the Sudan grass and made a very attractive growth, indeed. . KENTUCKY. In a small test at the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station the grass was allowed to mature for seed. Prof. II. Garman reported the following results: Land plowed, disked, and harrowed. One-fortieth of an acre planted at rate of 2(i pounds per acre. Drilled; rows 3 feet apart. Came up May 27. 1912. Stand perfect. Began to bloom July 15. In full bloom July 2.~>. Last bloom August 5. Cut for hay October 21. Yield, fresh. 190 pounds. Yield, dry. Is4 pounds. Height of plants, 7.1 inches. Seed saved for planting in 1913. MARYLAND. The results obtained at (he Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station are tints reported by Mr. Nicholas Schmitz: The Sudan grass was planted in rows on June :! and July 1.'!. The planting made on June ."! consisted of about one-fourth ,,f an acre. It came up well, and there was a g 1 stand to begin with, but owing to various accidents during the season there was not more than about one-third of a stand left to produce [CIr. 125] BUDAN ORA 1 « •s i. The yield of Beed was al t •"■ bushels mul was harvested i * ■ • - first w • • in November That planted on July 13 did nol mature Beed before frost but w - rends for cutting tor baj after the middle of October The grass seems verj promising for this section, snd II appears from the late seeding thai over a large pari of Murj I II would be possible t" -*'w the gran after wheal and harvest n crop of baj thai year The baj was relished verj much bj our dalrj cows, and our dairymen w< enthusiastic over II thai thej aaked tor a field of this tor bay tor the cows nezl rear. VIRGINIA, At the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station :i small test gave the follow ing data : The Sudan grass was broadcasted on n plal of one Oftleth of an acre, bnl was not harvested until nearly mature (September 11), when ii was V' feel tall. The plal yielded 200 pounds of coarse hay, or al the rate of 5 tons pet acre. The chief criticism offered ns ;i bay plant is its coarseneea \ I u .m RSI 'i . From the Ne^ Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Director .!. (J. Lipman sent the following report : The Sudan grass was seeded In the spring, and the seeding «;k followed by decidedly unfavorable weather conditions. V7e bad a severe drought in June ami July. Nevertheless, the crop In question made fairlj Batlsfactorj growth anil yielded on i r land a crop equivalent to 1 ton of dry matter iht acre. The hay made from the Sudan grass was better In quality than thai we could have made from mlllel grown under the Bame conditions, it is Mr. ••wen's opinion that on the whole Sudan grass will compare favorably with mlllel as to growth under trying climatic and soil conditions and thai it will produce ■ hay of better quality. It is my Impression thai on better soil and under more favorable climatic conditions Sudan grass should yield a crop equivalent to '2 or e\en more tons ,>t' hay per acre. REPORTS OF EXPERIMENTAL TRIALS BY FARMERS. TEXAS, A detailed report of particular interest was received from Mr. F. J. McCarthy, Boerne, Tex., under date of September I. 1912: I deferred planting the seed. Seeing no Bign of rain <>n April 18 and knowing there was nol enough moisture in the soil to sprout the Beed, I thought it beal to plant the seed In the dust and take my chances of the first rain sprouting tin- s.'fd. I had plowed a piece of new land In November, 1911. This land had received two harrowinga; one December 10, 1911, the other February it. 1912. This land is dry upland and was covered with a heavy growth of post oak, blackjack, and live-oak timber. April is, 1912, I opened seven furrows, 100 yards long, •"> feet apart, and 2 inches deep. I planted the Sudan grass B 1 in furrows and covered the Beed 2 Inches deep With the dry dust. April 'S< we had a drizzling rain which lasted from 8 a. m. until 10.30 a, m. Maj i the grass appeared above ground, about half of a stand <>n Investigation I found the other half Of the seed dry and untouched by the moisture. May -i we had a light rain, lasting from G a. m. to 7 a. m.. not enough to sprout the dr\ Beed. [Cir. 126] 18 SUDAN GRASS. We cultivated the Sudan grass with a 5-tooth cultivator, very shallow the first time, May 25. Second cultivation, June <;. Light rain, not enough to sprout tlic dry seed still in the ground. June 20, cultivated the third time with 5-tooth cultivator, shallow. July 1, cultivated the grass the fourth and the last time. Being anxious to save the seed of this grass and thinking that every day would bring a rain to mature the seed 1 left it growing till August 18. On that date the grass was s feet be fullj appra lated In -.\ supplementary reporl dated January 20, L913, he added: in answer to your letter will Inform you thai the m nd growth of Sudan ■rasa attained a height of at lens) an average of feel l cul and stored the hay from the Bret cutting, hoping to get the Beed thrashed out, bul « l i • l nol su. ceed In doing so. I • l i « l nol cul the mi •■ »u, i growth, bul am Bure ii was a^ heavy as the Brsl crop. I am Borrj I can nol give you more definite Information aa re gards the amounl of haj and seed produced, bul have been < ery much " under the weather" for sunn- months and bo things have gone - Of one thing I am certain there Is no better forage plan) for 1 1 * i — section. It is a wonderful pro ducer, very drought resistant, makes a most reniarknblj sweet smelling ha] with a very different odor from Johnson-grass hay, and "ill never bee a pest. Mr. J. K. Stegall, of 1 tetroit, Tex., wrote concerning his 1912 expe- rience ;i- follows : I sowed the Sudan seed that you Bent me, half In bottom on Btrong land and the other half on sandy, thin land. The results on i><>tii are most wonderful. I prepared a good seed bed bj breaking deep and then narrowed both ways I sowed seed April 25, making the lirst cutting Maj -'" l have cut the twentieth of every summer month, June, July, and August. I am cutting to-day (August 20, 1912). The yield is larger everj cutting, as it stools out fi i the root The piece In the bottom l sowed by the Bide of a small boo! of Johnson grass l have cul the Johnson grass twice and the Sudan grass four times. Stock eat Sudan grass bay with more relish than .lidins.,11 grass hay, as the texture Is nol so coarse. This Sudan grass is the mosl wonderful thing in the way of hay I ever saw. i have bad a great many applications for seed, but I have nun,- to sell. In a postscript Mr. Stegall milled: I neglected to mention we have had Quite a long, dry time; no rainfall. Nol nil the crops were damaged. The Sudan grass has resisted the drought, the is i»n the bottom land standing betteT than that on the sand] soil. In a subsequent reporl additional data were given m- follows: Yon seni me 2 pounds of Beed. l sowed it on one-eighth of an acre. I got 400 pounds of nice, enrol hay at each cutting. Son f my neighbors told me I sowed it too thick, bul for cutting In milk I am satisfied l Bowed It abonl right when l turned my cattle, bogs, and horses In the Held, I had goobers peas corn, and crab-grass, but they would nol eat any of these until the Sudan grass was completely consumed, stuck love it better than anything else they can gel to eat. I had a small patch of Johnson grass right by the side of the - I i sowed in the bottom. I cul the Johnson grass twice and the Sudan grass the times The weather was dry and I u'"t a nice cure every time I cut. Stock would eat the Sudan mass before they would the Johnson grass Mr. W. W. Price, Mounl Pleasant, Tex., recorded his experience as follows : On April o I sowed 5 pounds of Sudan-grass seed on one half of an acre of light sandy laud. The grass reached a height of T feel and matured 64 • from the date sown, the cutting yielding 1 1 tons of hay. [fir. 125] ^^^ ^^ < rn Q ^ s CO o —i LL ^^^^00 o ■11 0892 >- h- 09 ^^^^^C^ K

^sr z D ■^^^ ^= 20 SUDAN GRASS. The experience <>f Mr. II. N. Montgomery, of Austin, Tex., is thus reported : We planted the Sudan grass broadcast, aboui like oats, on ;i rich bul rather droughty piece of land (black waxy i which, however, had been well prepared and was in good condition, since planting, May 7, we have had one good rain, June 17. The grass had withstood the droughl well and made a very rapid growth, attaining an average height of 5 feet. Although very similar in ap- pea ranee to Johnson grass, I consider it far superior as a forage crop, as it i< much more bunchy, putting out more stems and a great many more leaves than Johnson grass. The stems are very sweet, containing a great deal of sugar, and are eaten greedily by both cows and horses, none of it being wasted, as i- Often the case with the coarser grasses. I should judge that it would make double the amount of hay made by Johnson grass under the same conditions. Tlie root system is very much like that of oats or crab-grass and there is no danger of the land becoming infested, as it is easy to kill out. I plowed aci one end of my patch of Sudan grass with a sweep, turning the bunches up, and there has been no sign of its reappearance. I cut the hay after saving all the seed, and the grass is again sprouting, although there has been no rain. Next year I expect to plant all the seed I have, as Sudan grass has proved itself far superior in quality and quantity to any of the grasses in this locality. 1 shall also try it on land infested by Johnson grass, as I have an idea that if planted thick enough it will choke out the Johnson grass in the course of two or three years. KANSAS. Mr. J. M. Grilman, of Leavenworth, Kans., made a small trial in 1912 with the following results: I made two plantings of Sudan srrass. one early and one later. The early planting, April 25. in 12-inch rows, was of much less growth and fell down and Shattered seed badly. The later planting, May 2d, was one-fifteenth of an acre in rows 42 inches wide and was cut twice, the first cutting yielding :'>4<; pounds and the second 2<'.7 pounds of cured hay. The first cutting was left a little too long, but was cut about September 10; the next cutting was made October 14. ALABAMA, Mr. Charles Anderson, of Axis. Ala., grew Sudan crass in 1912 and : I planted the Sudan grass seed May 2 and cut it twice. I am unable to giTC you the amount in pounds, as I had no way of weighing. If grew very rapidly and made a very heavy crop, which I would estimate at 1 ' tons to the acre per cutting. The stock ate it greedily, hut 1 did not have enough to demonstrate what it did for them, though they were fond of it. I would consider it a valu- able crop to grow. SOUTH CAROLINA. Mr. R. Hates, of Jackson, S. C. made, the following report : I cut this grass twice. I* went to seed twice, one from the grain and again from the stubble. The seed yield was poor, being but 10 bushels per acre for both harvests. It makes i hay yield fully equal to Johnson grass. [Cir. 125] o