BROOM-CORN EXPERIMENTS AT WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA. 31 



corn, but the thin rate produced 9.3 per cent, while in the Dwarf 

 that year the proportion varied from 3.4 per cent in the thick to 

 26.3 per cent in the thin rate. In 1916 suckers were produced in 

 all rates in both varieties, though the number in the Standard was 

 much smaller than in the Dwarf variety. In 1917 the Standard 

 broom corn produced suckers in all three rates, but in the Dwarf they 

 were present only in the normal and the thin rates. In 1918 there 

 were no suckers in the Standard broom corn sown at the thick rate, 

 but they were present in all three rates in the Dwarf variety. The 

 tendency to sucker is present in both varieties, though to a larger 

 degree in the Dwarf than in the Standard. The development of 

 this tendency is influenced largely by environing condition. Stand 

 is an important factor. Thin stands aid the development of suckers, 

 while thick stands suppress them. 



The percentage of stalks headed varies in the plats sown at the 

 different rates in the same year and in the same rates in the dif- 

 ferent years. This is due in part to seasonal conditions and in 

 part to the number of suckers produced. In the years when sucker- 

 ing was reduced to the minimum, the percentage of headed stalks 

 usually increased as the stand decreased. The reverse is true when 

 the plants sucker profusely. This is so especially when the suckers 

 are late and none of them produce heads. The rates of seeding 

 used in this experiment appear to have had no appreciable effect 

 on the height of the plants. 



The highest 5-year yields of good brush of the Standard variety 

 were made in two years at the thick rate of seeding and in two 

 years at the thin rate. The highest total yields of this variety were 

 produced in two years at the thick rate and in three years at the 

 normal rate of seeding. The Dwarf variety made the highest yields 

 of good brush at the thick rate during three years, and in one year 

 each at the normal and thin rates. In total brush produced, the 

 thick rate led in two years and the other two rates each led in 

 one year and tied in another year. 



The yield can not be considered the only factor in determining 

 the proper rate of seeding. The length of the brush to be produced 

 is also an important factor. Thick stands tend to produce short 

 brush and thin stands long brush. The fiber may be of good quality 

 but too short to be self- working, or it may be too long to be worked 

 to good advantage without waste in making brooms of average 

 length. Hurl brush that ranges from 18 to 22 inches works to 

 best advantage in the manufacture of parlor and house brooms. 

 Longer brush is required for heavy warehouse and street brooms. 

 Short brush, ranging in length from 12 to 16 inches, is used for 

 insides and for covers to some extent. 



