OTHER FARM CROPS 653 



hills 15 to 20 inches apart with four to six stalks of standard and 

 six to ten stalks of dwarf to the hill. A regular or uniform stand is 

 necessary to secure a uniform quality of brush. Just such quanti- 

 ties of seed should be sown as will give the desired stand with as lit- 

 tle thinning as possible. It is necessary to have the best seed and the 

 best preparation for the attainment of this. Some broom corn grow- 

 ers sow a superfluous quantity of seed and thin to a stand, but thin- 

 ning broom corn is a tedious and expensive task, and one that is 

 frequently neglected, as is the case with sorghum. Corn planters 

 with plate holes small enough for broom corn seed may be employed 

 for planting. The seed should be covered from % to 1 inch deep, 

 the depth depending upon the character of the soil and the quantity 

 of moisture in the soil at the time of planting. If the soil is dry 

 when the seed are sown they should be covered deeper than would 

 be necessary if the soil was in good moist condition. Rolling the 

 soil as the seed are planted will insure a more prompt germination 

 and a better stand. This is particularly true when the soil is dry at 

 seeding time. Should a heavy rain occur before the seed have ger- 

 minated the field should be gone over broadcast with a weeder or 

 harrow as soon as the soil will admit. This prevents the formation 

 of a crust and hastens the germination of the seed. 



Manuring and Fertilizing. As to whether fertilizing broom 

 corn will or will not pay is a matter to be determined by each grower 

 after a careful examination into the characters and condition of the 

 soil. Where cotton seed meal may be cheaply procured it will be 

 an appropriate and desirable fertilizer. An application of from 200 

 to 400 pounds of cotton seed meal in the drill before planting, or of 

 75 to 160 pounds of nitrate of soda just before the first cultivation 

 would hasten the growth of the young plants when they most needed 

 stimulation. Fertilization that has been successful and profitable 

 with sorghum, Kaffir corn or Indian corn would be appropriate for 

 broom corn. A crop of cowpeas following oats, rye, wheat or Irish 

 potatoes would improve the soil for broom corn to be planted the fol- 

 lowing spring not only by the enrichment of the soil but by being a 

 means for aiding in the suppression of weeds. Where crimson clover 

 does well the cowpeas may be followed by this crop. Broom corn 

 has also been grown with success on soil from which rye and vetch 

 and Irish potatoes had been harvested. 



Cultivation. After broom corn has attained a height of six or 

 ten inches its cultivation need not differ from that usual with Indian 

 corn or drilled sorghum. Its growth is then rapid and an occasional 

 cultivation for the purpose of maintaining an earth mulch and pre- 

 venting the growths of weeds that might appear is all that is neces- 

 sary. To give proper cultural care while quite young is more diffi- 

 cult. This difficulty can, however, be greatly obviated by as far as 

 possible ridding the soil of weeds the year previous, and by several 

 cultivations of the area intended for broom corn before the seed are 

 planted. 



When the young plants first appear they are small and not 

 dissimilar in appearance to young foxtail grass. Unless the soil has 



