160 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



being well watered before planting, the seed should ger- 

 minate and make a growth of at least eight or ten inches 

 before any cultivation is needed. Then throw a slight 

 ridge, or, with the disc set to leave a good center furrow, 

 throw a ridge on either side of the corn, but not letting 

 it bury the corn. Leave it with this cultivation until it 

 is eighteen inches high, without further watering. Then 

 in the furrows which have been made by the cultivator 

 give the ground a thorough soaking, and as soon as pos- 

 sible afterward go through with the cultivators. Then 

 there is no objection to hilling the plant somewhat. 

 This will be the only cultivation necessary to complete 

 the growth of the crop. If planted before the first of 

 May, it ought to be ready for harvesting in August. 

 After the corn has been removed, another thorough 

 watering between the .rows will put the ground in excel- 

 lent condition for another cultivation, which will insure 

 a rapid growth of suckers from the root of the plant. It 

 will throw up a mass of new growth, which will not ma- 

 ture grain, but which will make from two to four tons 

 of fine forage to the acre. Kindred crops such as Jeru- 

 salem corn, Kaffir corn, sorghum, dhourra, Milo maize, 

 imphees, teosinte and other non-saccharine forage crops 

 which have become quite popular of late years in the arid 

 region, may be irrigated and cultivated substantially the 

 same as Egyptian corn. When sorghum is grown for 

 syrup it needs a good deal of irrigation up to a certain 

 point that is, when it has commenced its active growth, 

 after which water should be applied sparingly ; otherwise 

 the sap will be diluted and impaired in quality. No 

 water should be given within a month of cutting. Broom 

 corn needs but little water if the cultivation is conscien- 

 tiously done. At the time of the heading out of the 

 panicle, however, water should be given plentifully to 

 force a good growth of brush and produce a smooth, 

 long and straight fiber. Of course when excessive drouth 



