SELECTION AND PREPAEATIOX OF GKOUND, ETC. 113 



since there is danger that the heavier planter may plant the seed too 

 deep. 



This planter is represented in Plate XVI. 



Cidtivatio7i. 



The main object after the planting of the sorghum, is to keep the 

 ■weeds in subjection until the crop has so far advanced as to be able to 

 care for itself. 



It is now that the previous cultivation of hoed crops upon the field, 

 the fall plowing, the frequent cultivation and harrowing of the 

 laud up to the day of planting, are seen to have been of great 

 value. 



After planting, these last operations are continued uninterruptedly 

 until the plants are about two feet high. It is a -common practice, a 

 few days after planting, to drag the field over once or twice with a 

 light harrow; and this is even done after the cane lias made its ap- 

 pearance. But, if the seed was planted when the earth was thoroughly 

 warm and moist, and directly after a thorough cultivation, harrowing, 

 and rolling of the land, it will be found that the weeds will have made 

 no ajipreciable start before the cane is so well up that the hills or drills 

 are easily recognized, and tlien the work with the cultivator and the 

 hoe should begin, and be continued. So soon as the plants are about 

 six inches high, they should be thinned out, and this operation may 

 easily be performed with the hoe. After the plants have attained a 

 height of 12 or 18 inches, care should be taken to avoid deep culti- 

 vation, especially near the plant, in order not to disturb the rootlets of 

 the growing plant, which extend out near the surface. In short, the 

 care of the crop, after planting, is practically identical with that of 

 maize, with this difl^erence, that the young sorghum is more delicate 

 and requires, more attention than does maize. At the present, it 

 is hardly known whether hilling or flat culture is best]; but at the first!" 

 it is best to leave the land level, in order that the harrow may reach 

 the weeds. By many it is asserted that the hilling results in throwing 

 out of suckers, a most undesirable result, although it does not as yet 

 appear established as an effect of hilling. 



It will probably be found, in each locality and season, that the course 

 to be pursued will vary with the conditions prevailing, and that neither 

 the one course nor the other will be found best for general appli- 

 cation. 



In certitin sections of the country, the best results have been se- 

 cured by what is termed ridge culture. Instead of marking, as usual, 

 S 



