THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SEED 



21 



If the isolated plots cannot be secured, the differ- 

 ent strains may be tested side by side in separate 

 rows, provided some of the original seed is saved 

 for future planting. In this case no 

 seed would be saved from the test 

 plots, since it would show mixture. 



Experienced growers may greatly 

 improve the quality of the brush 

 they are producing by exercising 

 greater care in the selection of seed. 

 This is particularly true in localities 

 where farmers are growing the 

 three different classes of sorghums, 

 namely, kafir corn for grain and for- 

 age, sweet sorghum for syrup and 

 the broom-corn for the brush. 

 These different plants hybridize or 

 cross with each other quite readily 

 when grown in the same or in adja- 

 cent fields. Sweet sorghum crossed 

 with broom-corn loses much of its 

 value for syrup making, and kafir 

 corn, when mixed with broom-corn, 

 has its value for forage greatly im- 

 paired. When broom-corn seed be- 

 comes crossed with the other 

 sorghums, the quality of the brush will be poor. 



Figure 6 shows three heads selected from a field 

 of sorghum being grown for forage on a farm where 

 broom-corn is a regular crop. The head shown to 

 the right is a black-seeded sorghum and to the left 

 is seen a good head of broom-corn. The head in the 



The head 

 to the right is 

 sorghum, while 

 that to the left 

 is a good head 

 of broom-corn. 

 Between the two 

 is an intermedi- 

 ate form, the re- 

 sult of a cross 

 between sweet 

 sorghum and 

 broom-corn. 



