80 



20,000 to 30,000 seeds in a pound. Assuming that each seed produces 

 a cane, this would give from 40,000 to 60,000 canes per acre. It is true 

 that all the seeds do not produce canes, but it is also true that many seeds 

 produce more than one cane for sorghum tillers; that is, produces more 

 than one cane from one root. If 24,000 canes, weighing, when trimmed 

 of seed top and leaves, 1 pound each, or 12 tons of clean cane per 

 acre, is a fair yield, it follows that 2 pounds of seed per acre is a liberal 

 allowance. In all the work of this station it has been observed that 

 canes which stand closely suffer most from drouth. In most seasons 

 there are times when the plants need moisture. The tonnage or the 

 yield of cane is not greater when thickly planted, except in seasons of 

 abundant rain. In previous years the effort at this station has been 

 to secure seed having 98 per cent vitality and to plant the seed carefully, 

 so as to avoid the labor of thinning the plants to a proper stand. The 

 conclusion has, however, been arrived at that it is economy to plant 2 

 pounds of seed per acre and to chop out superfluous plants after the 

 dangers of the first cultivations have j)assed. This almost insures a 

 regular stand of cane, without useless spaces or crowded canes. 



On account of dry soil at the time of planting the seeds germinated 

 irregularly and the canes were not uniform in ripening. In such sea- 

 sons as 1890 and 1891 planting the seeds deeply, so they would be in 

 moist earth, would give much better results than shallow covering with 

 dry surface soil; but when the planting is followed by rains which com- 

 pact the soil the reverse is true. As the weather can not be foretold 

 there can be but one rule, which is to plant at moderate depth, avoid- 

 ing the extremes of deep or shallow covering. 



After the planting was finished the land was rolled. This smooths 

 the surface and greatly assists in cultivating closely when the plants 

 are small. 



The experimental field received four cultivations and was hoed 

 twice. The second hoeing was, perhaps, of slight benefit to the crop. 

 Although the dry- and cool weather of April and May was not favorable 

 to rapid growth of cane, and the excess of rain in June and July was 

 unusually favorable to growth of Aveeds, yet the cultivation of the ex- 

 perimental field was done more easily, cheaply, and better than in pre- 

 vious years. When the cultivation is done at the right times to secure 

 mastery of the weeds, and when it is done in the best way, it is not 

 more difficult to grow a good crop of cane than a poor one. In the work 

 which has been done at this station the cultivation has been such as 

 any farmer who trusts to good work rather than to luck can afford to 

 give a crop of sorghum grown for sale to a sugar factory. It is well to 

 know what the capabilities of sorghum are by intensive cultivation. It 

 is also well to know what may be expected from sorghum when grown 

 in a practical and general way. 



In June and July there was excess of rain and the canes grew to unusual 

 size. In August there was a marked deficiency of rainfall and the 



