39* THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



(299) While the plant is between three and eight inches in 

 height It will stand harrowing better than maize. 



553. Enemies of Sorghum.— Weeds are especially troublesome to sorghum 

 on account of its slow early growth ; but there are none that are not common to 

 maize. The sorghum plant is attacked by maize rust {Puccinia sorgki Schw.) and 

 also by smut {Sphacelotheca sorgki (L. K.) Clint.), which frequently does much 

 damage to broom corn by producing its black smut spores in the seeds. It may 

 be controlled by soaking the seed for fifteen minutes in hot water at 135° F. 1 or by 

 the formalin treatment. The principal insect enemies are the chinch bug (151) 

 and the plant louse. {^'^ 



554. Time of Harvesting. — The stage of maturity depends 

 upon the purpose for which it has been raised. When raised 

 for grain the seeds are allowed to become thoroughly mature, 

 which usually happens while the stem and leaves are still green. 

 Plants may stand in the field in this condition for several weeks 

 without material injury, although there will be some loss from 

 the shattering of the seed. It is desirable, however, especially 

 when use is made of the fodder, to cut and shock it as soon as 

 the seeds have become thoroughly mature. With broom com, 

 brush of a light color is desired and is obtained by cutting as 

 soon as may be after the pollen has fallen. The early cut brush 

 is also said to be heavier and more durable. The milk stage 

 is as late as it may be safely allowed to stand, although in 

 California seed is allowed to ripen, greatly to the detriment of 

 the brush, as much as a ton of seed per acre being obtained.* 



555. Method of Harvesting. — No thoroughly satisfactory 

 method of handling the crop has yet been devised, especially 

 in humid regions where there is some difficulty in keeping both 

 the stover and the grain. It may be cut and shocked after the 

 manner of maize by any of the methods recommended for that 

 crop. (342) In some cases the header has been used, which 

 gathers only the heads and leaves, the stalks standing in the 

 field. In other cases the heads are removed by hand with a 



I lU. BuL 47 ; 57. 



« U. S. Dejpt of Agr., Farmers' Bui. 174, p. 17. 



