16 Farmers' Bulletin Í126.

or grasshoppers become aestructive, a good crop of hay can bo harvested in 50 to 55 days from the date of seeding; and even though the grass has not then reached the proper stage of maturity for cutting, it should under such conditions be harvested.

UTILIZATION.

HAY. The hay from Sudan grass is of excellent quality and the yields are quite satisfactory; therefore, the grass will continue to be most largely Flo. 8.—Bundles of Sudan grass, Illustrating Its rapidity of growth. From left to right: No. I, 71 days; No. 2,56 days; No. 3,42 days; No. 4,28 days; and No. 5,13 days from date of seeding. Sudan grass should not bo cut for hay until it has reached the stage of maturity shown by bundles 1 and 2.

utilized as a hay crop. From the central United States southward it is possible to get two cuttings, and in favorable instances as many as four cuttings have been secured. From seeding to the first cutting 60 to 80 days are necessary. When conditions favor continuous growth the second cutting is ready in about 45 days after the first one, but the third one is likely to take a little longer—50 to 55 days.

(Fig. 8.) This means that the growing season must extend over a period of six months to produce three cuttings. By cutting the grass