290 DRY LAND FARMING 



The seed should seldom be buried more than 2 inches, 

 but in some instances it may be necessary to plant it 

 more deeply in order to reach moisture. It is slow to 

 germinate, and this fact makes it possible to use the har- 

 row with considerable freedom before the plants ap- 

 pear. This could not be done where the seed had been 

 broadcasted without destroying many of the plants. 



The amount of seed to plant will vary from, say, 3 

 to 4 quarts per acre to 1^ bushels. The latter amount 

 can only be used when the crop is grown as grain hay 

 is grown, and in areas with a rainfall approximating or 

 exceeding 20 inches per annum. The amount of seed 

 used should be carefully adjusted to the amount of mois- 

 ture that is in the soil and that may be expected to fall 

 under normal conditions. From, say, 2 to 3 stalks should 

 be the minimum number in the hills, and in the rows 

 the plants may be from, say, 3 to 12 inches distant. 



Care of the crop. The harrow or weeder should be 

 used on the crop once or twice before the plants appear. 

 If used the second time it should be just before the plants 

 appear. Thorough and careful harrowing at such a time 

 may preclude the necessity for further harrowing until 

 cultivation begins, but there are instances when the har- 

 row or the weeder may be used with profit subsequently, 

 but not usually until the plants have reached the height 

 of, say, 3 to 4 inches. The cultivation called for is about 

 the same as that which will best meet the needs of the 

 corn crop (see p. 280). 



Harvesting. Small areas of the sorghums may be 

 harvested by hand and put up in shocks like corn. Large 

 areas may be cut with the corn harvester, and, under 

 some conditions, with the grain binder. The mower is 

 frequently used when the crop is grown on the broad- 

 cast plan. When thus cut, the sorghum is put up in 

 large cocks, and in these it remains until it is fed. The 

 sorghums are much liable to heat and mold in the stack. 



