Sudan Grass. 15

mature successively later than the primary stem and provide imma- ture stalks throughout the entire growing season. There is in addi- tion the fact that, like the sorghums, it holds its leaves well and makes the best quality of fodder when the seed has reached the dough

stage. This characteristic makes it possible, where necessary, to extend the haying process over a long period without any material loss either in the quantity or quality of the hay. Such a feature is of great importance to the farmer, since haying is often interfered with by other work or by rains which prevent cutting at the most favorable time.

The scarcity of roughage, the presence of a drought, or the danger of loss from insects may also enter into the decision as to when Sudan grass should be harvested. If feed is scarce or the weather turns „dry or grasshoppers become destructive, a good crop of hay can be har- vested 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 cut- ting, it should under such conditions be harvested.

UTILIZATION.

HAY.

Sudan grass is primarily a hay grass, its slender leafy stems mak- ing it easy to handle with the ordinary haying machinery. It yields well in most parts of the United States, and the hay is relished by cattle, horses, and sheep.

The feeding value of Sudan grass hay is practically equal to that of millet, timothy, Johnson grass, and other nonlegume roughages. This fact has been established both by chemical analyses and by

practical feeding tests.4 Work stock can be wintered in good con- dition on Sudan grass hay without any supplementary grain ration. Farmers report that horses and mules stand plowing and other hard work in the hot summer months better when fed Sudan grass hay than when their roughage is alfalfa.

Stock cattle were maintained economically by the Kansas Agricul- tural Experiment Station on a ration of Sudan grass hay, sorghum silage, and a small supplementary ration of linseed or cottonseed meal. In another feeding experiment, milk cows produced 97.8 per cent as much milk on Sudan grass hay as on alfalfa hay. Hundreds of farmers testify that cattle, horses, and sheep all eat Sudan grass hay with no derangement of the digestive processes and with good results when measured in gains of flesh, ability to work, or to produce milk. Experts in feeding live stock claim, however, thai Sudan grass hay

4 A summary of these analyses and the results of feeding tests will be found in U. ' S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 981, p. 41-46.