SUNFLOWERS 5 



The sunflower heads are usually harvested during the latter part of Septem- 

 ber. "Mammoth Russian" sunflower has an average height, just before har- 

 vesting, of about twelve feet, with seed heads which measure ten to twelve inches 

 across. Figure 3 shows typical sunflower heads at the time of harvest. It has 

 been found best to cut the sunflower heads off the stalks and place them singly 

 on boards or dry ground to dry for about two weeks. This drying facilitates the 

 removal of the seed from the head by striking the head against some object or 

 rubbing the head on a very coarse wire screen. For home use as a poultry feed 

 supplement, winnowing is not necessary. The seed should be stored in a dry 

 place, safe from mice or birds. Some poultrymen have found it desirable to 

 leave the seed attached to the head, feeding several heads daily to their chickens 

 and letting them do the work of removing the seeds. 



Figure 3. 



Typical Sunflower Seed Heads at Time of Harvest — Black African and 

 Mammoth Russian Varieties. 



The yield of seed varies greatly, and the average yield in the principal pro- 

 ducing sections of this country is much less than was obtained at this station. 

 In Massachusetts, depending on the fertility of the soil and the season, yields 

 should average a ton of clean seed per acre. At the Experiment Station yields 

 as high as two tons of seed per acre have been obtained. The wholesale price of 

 sunflower seed as quoted on the west coast by the "Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter" 

 ranges from 21 J^ to 243^ cents per pound (February 29, 1944). Even yields 

 one-half that obtained at this station would be large enough to warrant con 

 sideration of this crop. 



The varieties most commonly grown are Jumbo, Black African, Mammoth 

 Russian, Manchurian type, and White Beauty. Figure 4 shows typical seeds of 

 these varieties. The Mammoth Russian, a tall variety with striped seeds, is 

 perhaps the most common and gives very good results. Sunflowers are very 

 highly cross-pollinated and plots for seed must, therefore, be carefully isolated 

 from other sunflowers. Constant selection of seed must be practiced if the 

 strains are to be maintained; otherwise, sunflowers rapidly revert to the wild 



