BROCni-COEX EXPERIMENTS AT WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA. 47 



rates in tlie 3-year period. This method ranked first in groups B 

 and D, or in two of the four rates averaged in the 5-year period. 

 The third method, with four plants in each hill, gave the highest 

 average in group A, or the thick rate, in the 3-year period. The 

 second method, with two plants in the hill, gave the highest average 

 in group D in the 3-year and in groups A and C in the 5-year period. 

 Thus, it is seen that the first method, with one plant in the hill in 

 rows spaced 3.5 feet apart, has more high averages than any other 

 method. This is a good indication that it is the most favorable 

 method of spacing, and also from 6 to 7 inches of row space to the 

 plant appears to be the most profitable rate of seeding, as that is the 

 rate which gave the liigliest average yield in this experiment and in 

 all other experiments as well. 



HARVESTING EXPERIMENTS. 



The object of the harvesting experiments was to learn the stage of 

 development at which broom corn should be harvested to obtain the 



highest yield and quality of cured brush. The experiments were con- 

 ducted in the seasons of 1915. 1917. and 1918. Acme broom corn. 



(C. I. No. 213) was used in making these experiments. 



In 1915 the harvesting experiment was conducted to learn the stage 

 of maturity at which to harvest broom corn to obtain the highest yield 

 of cured brush. Three plats of broom corn, not equal in area, in dif- 

 ferent stages of development, were harvested. The first lot was in 

 the flower stage, the second in the milk, and the third lot in the 

 dough stage when harvested. Each lot was weighed as soon as 

 harvested, including the seed. Then the heads were thrashed and 

 the brush was put on racks in the shed to cure. After the brush- 

 was thoroughly dry the cured weights were obtained. 



Table XXII. — Data obtained from the broom-corn harvesting experiment con- 

 ducted at Woodicard, Okla.. in 1915. 



Stage of development . 



Green 

 brush ; in- 

 cluding 

 seed. 



Cured 

 brush. 



Cured 

 brush. 





Pounds. 

 309 

 209 

 441 



Pounds. 

 79 

 59 

 142 



Per cent. 

 25.6 



Milk 





28.2 







32.2 









The data in Table XXII show that 309 pounds of broom corn 

 harvested in the flower stage yielded 79 pounds of cured brush, 

 which is 25.6 per cent of the total green weight. When harvested 

 in the milk stage. 209 pounds produced 59 pounds of cured brush, 

 or 28.2 per cent of the total green weight. In the dough stage 111 



