THICK SEEDING OF MILO IN THE SAN ANTONIO EEGION. 19 



ADVANTAGES OF THICK SEEDING. 



In the foregoing discussion reference has been niade to close spacing 

 and wide spacing rather than to thick seeding laid thm seeding. This 

 terminology has been used because it conforms to the methods used 

 in the experiments reported. For convenience in securing accurate 

 counts and measurements, it was thought desirable to plant all the 

 plats at the uniform rate of 5 pounds of seed to the acre, although it 

 was necessary to replant twice in 1914, using a heavier rate. This is 

 a relatively thick seeding if conditions are favorable. The plants were 

 then thinned to varying distances withm the rows to coiTespond 

 approximately to the stands which would result from various rates of 

 seeding. In actual practice the stand is regulated by varying the 

 rate of seeding, as it is not generally considered practicable to thia 

 the plants in a large field. The close spacing which seems to be 

 d^irable must be secm-ed by relatively thick seeding. 



The results obtained from the tests covering two years show clearly 

 two things: (1) That even in favorable seasons when the midge is 

 not a factor the yields are not decreased by thick seeding and (2) 

 that in years when the midge appears at about flowermg time the 

 yields are very materially increased when the tillers and branches 

 are suppressed by thick seeding. 



From even the purely theoretical standpoint, where no other fac- 

 tors are involved, it would seem that if a tiUer is given a root of its 

 own it will do better than when several heads are dependent upon 

 a single rootmg system, which is indicated in the results obtained in 

 1913. In other words, when earliness is not a factor, the yields are 

 not decreased when the tillers are suppressed. In fact, the weight of 

 evidence indicates that the thicker seedings are better. 



THICK SEEDING IN OTHER SECTIONS. 



It Is appreciated that the number of tillers produced depends, 

 aside from thes[)acing of the ])lants in the row, upon the productivity 

 of the soil and upon the climatic conditions. Where the conditions 

 vary considerably from those at San Antonio it is realized that the 

 r<»s(jlts would doi]l>tk«s vary greatly with similar cxj)eriments. Tliis 

 dorjs not in any way afr<x;t the vahui of these results nor prohibit ttio 

 applifution of the principJc, but sijiipjy shows the necessity of con- 

 (hirting oxj)f',riMi<!nts to detei'inine tlic- j)rop(^r spacing of tlie plants in 

 tlui row niu\ i\\(', disianfo betwcfin rows for tli(^ locality. 



Aside from the data hoi-cin given, very htl.h^ informaticm is avail- 

 abh; r<^lativ(5 to th(5 OjWcci of various spacings on th<^ l)(>J)avior of grain- 

 sorghmn crops. That otlxw factors ar<^ involved b(fr;id<is the avail- 

 ublo moisture suj)j)ly seoms not to huv(i bo(Mi. i<v'.ogni/(^(l. Frag- 

 riKUitary staieriuints ai-e found li<y<i and thci<i in vajious |)ubh(^'itions 

 which have intijiiattul that where thin rates of seodinti: w<»ro made 



