CHAPTER X11. 
THE ‘‘TILLERING”’ OF SORGHUM. 
Influence of the Side Shoots, or ‘‘Suckers,”’ upon the Saccharine 
Products of the Plant—Opposite Opinions of experienced Plant- 
ers as to the Nature and Value of the Lateral Shoots harmonized 
—Their Growth under perfect Control—They are not an Abnor- 
mal Growth, but are perfectly analogous to the Tillers of Wheat 
—The Tillering Process common to many of the Grasses, and a 
wise Provision for their Increase—Under what Conditions the 
Growth of the Sorghum Tillers should be encouraged. 
Mucu diversity of opinion has existed among cultivators 
as to the nature and influence of the side shoots, or “‘suck- 
ers,” which, sometimes to the number of eight or ten, spring 
up around the base of the central stem. Experiment, it 
seems, has not hitherto led to the adcption of any well- 
grounded opinions on this snbject. Some planters have 
been led to believe that these suckers are really what the 
term, according to the popular interpretation, indicates—a 
mischievous and abnormal growth, diverting from the main 
stalk the nutriment which would otherwise have been em- 
ployed in enlarging the growth and enriching the juice. 
They advise, therefore, to pull them off whenever they 
appear. Others have found that these lateral shoots ar- 
rive at maturity almost as soon as the central one, are 
equally as rich in saccharine matter, and of scarcely infe- 
rior size, while they vastly augment the yield. They recom- 
“mend that their growth should be encouraged. So fre- 
quently have these opposite conclusions been reached, as to 
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