DIRECTIONS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF THE SORGHO 



SUCRE. 



Though we are without experience in the cultivation of this plant, 

 yet, thinking our readers would soon require some practical direc- 

 tions in relation to its proper planting and tillage, we have gathered 

 from diiferent reliable sources, the following: 



Choose a warm mellow soil, such as is well adapted to Indian corn; 

 plow early ; plow deep, say from six to eight inches ; plant as early 

 as you would corn, say from the twentieth of April to the tenth of 

 May, or as early as the ground is in good condition ; and it is ad- 

 visable, as it is still an experimental matter with us, to plant at 

 different times, commencing by starting some in hot beds ; then 

 plant from the time that it will do to set in the open air, until the 

 20th of May or 1st of June. The direction sent us from the Pat- 

 ent Office is as follows : Cultivate as broom corn ; plant in hills 

 three feet by two feet apart, with ten seeds in a hill, and reduce each 

 hill to six stalks at first hoeing ; being careful not to plant in the 

 vicinity of dourah corn, chocolate corn, or broom corn, as it mixes 

 fi-eely with these plants, and will render the seed unfit for planting. 



We would advise to try it at different distances, say from four to 

 five feet apart each way; and some drilled in rows, running north 

 and south; the stalks thinned, say one, to every eight inches in the 

 row, and the rows five feet apart, so as freely to admit the light and 

 air. Cover not more than a quarter of an inch deep, with very loose 

 and mellow earth. 



Cultivate first with harrow, weeding the hill with care, as it comes 

 up so delicate as to require close attention, lest you pull it up or in- 

 jure it. Then follow with the cultivator, and plow as you would 

 your corn. If suckers spring up, as they will, and you desire seed, 

 it would be well to pinch them off; if for syrup or forage, let all 

 grow. 



Whenever the seed shall be hard and black, cut off the upper 

 part of the stalks, about three feet long, and hang them up, like 

 broom corn, in a dry place ; next, cut your stalks, first pulling off 

 the leaves, and dry as you would corn fodder ; here many experi- 

 ments will suggest themselves, such as the trying of the stalks, leaves 

 and all, properly cut and prepared for fodder ; feeding the stalk 



(128) 



