36 BULLETIN 836, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



these extremes. In 1918 the stands from all six rates were identical 

 with those of the previous year. 



The rate at which the crop was sown appears to have had no in- 

 fluence on either the vegetative or fruiting periods under normal or 

 favorable growing conditions, such as obtained in the years 1914 

 and 1915. In these years both periods were the same for all the 

 rates. In the less favorable seasons of 1916, 1917, and 1918 some 

 differences are shown in the length of both the vegetative and fruit- 

 ing periods. But these differences are not altogether consistent with 

 the rates of seeding. In some cases the plants sown at the thick rates 

 required a longer time in the vegetative period than those at the 

 thinner rates, but in others the reverse is true. This may be due in 

 part to the larger percentage of suckers produced at thin rates. 

 The suckers are later than the main stalks, and if they produce heads, 

 which is not unusual, both the vegetative and fruiting periods may be 

 prolonged. 



In 1911 no suckers were produced. In the other years their pro- 

 duction at the different rates of seeding increased as the stands de- 

 creased, though the percentage in the same rates differed in these 

 years. It was usually highest in the years with seasons most favor- 

 able to suckers. 



There is no apparent correlation between the percentage of headed 

 stalks and the stand. The percentage of stalks headed varies at the 

 different rates in the same year and at the same rates in the different 

 years, but the variations are not consistent with the rates in either 

 case. 



In 1914 the average height of the stalks ranged from 4.3 feet in 

 two of the thicker rates to only 4 feet in the thinner rates. In 1915 

 the average height, 5.8 feet, was the same in all rates. In 1916 the 

 height of the plants in the thickest and thinnest rates averaged 4 feet 

 only, while the average for two of the intermediate rates was 4.5 

 feet and 4.3 feet for another rate. In 1917 the stalks averaged high- 

 est in the thicker rates and lowest in the intermediate rates, with a 

 noticeable increase in height again in the thinnest rate. The lowest 

 average height, 3.3 feet, in 1918. was in the thickest rate, and the 

 highest average, 4 feet, was in the fifth rate, with a slight decline in 

 the thinnest rate. It appears that the effect of the rate of seeding 

 on the height of the stalks is dependent upon seasonal conditions. 

 When the moisture is sufficient to promote normal growth in the early 

 part of the vegetative period the thick rates produce the taller stalks, 

 and the reverse is true when there is a lack of moisture at that stage 

 of growth. 



The yield per acre is shown in pounds: (1) That of good brush, 

 (2) that of poor brush, and (3) the total yield of all brush, which 

 is the combined yields of the good and poor qualities. The yields 



