16 



be combined with other feeds. By referring to the Agricultural Department bulletin 

 we find that corn has an average value of 10.3 per cent protein, 5 per cent of fat; 

 wheat has 11.8 per cent protein, 2.1 per cent fat; whole sunflowers 16.2 protein and 

 21.2 per cent fat. Taking into account the area in which sunflowers may be grown, 

 the yield per acre, the ease of cultivation, the value compared with other grains, 

 their palatability, and the results in feeding so far as they have been tried, I can not 

 see why they may not be grown with profit for feed, and thus help the farmer out 

 of his present difficulties. 



Mr. James D. Clemmons, of Elwood, Ind. , who owns a farm on the 

 Ohio River, in Jefferson County, Ind., has grown large quantities of 

 sunflowers. He says: 



For the past five years I have raised from 5 to 8 acres of sunflowers annually. 

 . Soil of medium fertility seems better adapted to the growth of sunflowers, although 

 they do well in both thin clay and rich bottom land. The seed must be planted very 

 early. I plant in March in the river bottom and often have plants several inches 

 high by corn-planting time. It is important that the plants should get large enough 

 to shade the ground before the hot weather comes on. After they have attained this 

 degree of growth no cultivation is necessary, as no grass or weeds can grow after the 

 ground is well shaded. Plant the same as corn, using planter or corn drill, and if the 

 plants are too thick they can be thinned, but will to some extent thin themselves. 

 The cultivation is the same as that given to corn. Harvest about the 10th to 20th of 

 September. Go through the field in a wagon, as in harvesting corn, and gather all 

 the ripe flowers. In about a week this operation should be repeated and later a third 

 gathering must be made, cleaning up the field. The growing of sunflowers crowds 

 out the weeds and the ground is left perfectly clean after the harvest of the crop. 



The thrashing is done by hand. I use a short, heavy stick for the purpose. Two 

 or three blows will remove all the seeds. The flowers must be thrashed the same 

 day as gathered, for if they are left in a pile or in the wagon bed they will heat. 

 When thrashed the seed is shipped in sacks as soon as possible. From 600 to 800 

 pounds are produced to the acre. 



When I began raising sunflowers five years ago the price of seed was 3 cents a 

 pound, but now that more farmers are growing them the price has decreased and 

 this year the seed is selling for 2 cents a pound. 



Sunflowers are a good fertilizer. When they are planted on thin land the following 

 crops are much larger than they were before the flowers were raised. I think the 

 principal use of the seed now is for condition powders for cattle and horses. The oil 

 is also expressed and makes an excellent soap, I am informed. 



This statement respecting the fertilizing value of the sunflower plant 

 is probably due to a misinterpretation of the meaning of the increased 

 crops. It is not probable that the growth of the sunflower increases 

 fertility. 



Mr. H. H. Marsh, of Monte Vista, Colo., makes the following 

 statement in regard to the growth of the sunflower in that State: 



Sunflowers grow extremely well here, but there are not enough raised upon which 

 a reliable report could be based. I believe I could get a crop of 100 bushels per 

 acre. 



Mr. A. M. Stratton, of Mount Vernon, 111., gives the following 

 information: 



In reply to yours of October 17, I would say in regard to planting and cultivating 

 sunflowers, and harvesting the seed, that they are planted and cultivated the same 



