43 



good land it grows to a height of 15 to 18 feet; on poor, badly prepared 

 land, it stops at five or six feet. Because it will grow on poorer land than 

 other plants is no evidence that poor land is better for it. On gravelly or 

 sandy subsoils, the roots will go four or five feet deep, and on this kind 

 of land, if rich, it will make far more syrup and of a better quality. For 

 syrup making it should be planted in drills three feet apart. In four or 

 five days the young and tender plants come up, looking very much like 



Seedheads of Sorghum Collier variety, one of the best. 

 (U. S. Dept. Agric.) 



grass. Young sorghum grows rapidly, and soon outstrips the weeds. 

 When three or four inches high, it should be chopped and thinned out, 

 and but little more work need be done to it. Two or three plowings are 

 all it should receive, as the roots penetrate the ground so thickly the 

 plant will receive more injury than benefit if plowed after it is three or 

 four feet high. Besides, by that time the ground is so shaded by lateral 

 branches and suckers that the weeds will effect no material injury. 



