SORGHUMS 267 



rows sufficiently wide to cultivate with horses, or less com- 

 monly, broadcasted or drilled thickly for hay. Sometimes 

 it is planted in a mixture with cowpeas, soybeans or other 

 legumes. 



Good preparation of the seed bed is desirable, especially 

 to secure a firm seed bed and freedom from weeds. Sor- 

 ghum seedlings grow slowly at first, the more so if the 

 weather be cool, and so are likely to be injured by weeds or 

 even destroyed in broadcasted sowings. 



When planted in rows sorghum is cultivated often 

 enough to keep down weeds. In the semi-arid region 

 frequent cultivations are believed to conserve the soil 

 moisture. 



Whether broadcasted or sown in rows, sorghum can be 

 harrowed until about 6 inches high with practically no 

 injury to the young plants. Rows 24 to 30 inches wide 

 may be cultivated with a weeder till 2 feet high. 



316. Time of sowing. Sorghum should not be sown 

 until the soil is thoroughly warm in the spring, and usually 

 a little later than corn. Early sowings often given imper- 

 fect stands. Later seedings can be made at any time in the 

 summer provided there is likely to be sufficient moisture 

 and time enough to mature before frost. 



317. Seeding in rows. Sorghums may be sown in 

 cultivated rows in widths varying from 18 inches to 44 

 inches. Cultivation with horses is difficult, however, if 

 the rows are narrower than 28 inches, and 42 or 44 inches 

 is the usual distance used. The thickness of the seeding 

 in the rows may also be varied. Thick seeding will pro- 

 duce finer stems and a larger proportion of leaves, and this 

 is therefore desirable where moisture is ample. In dry 

 regions, however, where the moisture supply may be very 

 scanty, thin seedings are most satisfactory in the long run, 



