12 



BULLETIX 1045, U. S. DEPARTMEiN^T OF AGRICULTURE. 



that reported by the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 the growth is so rapid that only one cultivation is necessary, after 

 "which the plants shade the ground so thoroughly that weeds can not 

 grow. Ordinarily, however, two or three cultivations are necessary. 

 At the Huntley, Mont., experiment farm three irrigations were 

 given sunflowers seeded May 21, 1918, water being applied uniformly 

 to the field on July 9, August 2. and August 18 (7, p. 12-14). In 

 1917 five irrigations were given. The frequency and character of 

 cultivations and irrigations will necessarily have to be determined to 

 a large degree by the grower. The large growth produced and the 

 consequent high rate of water loss in dry regions means a correspond- 

 ingly high water ref}uirement. 



Fig. I!. — Harvestiug sunflowurs for silage with a low binckr liquipped with an elevator to 

 carry the bundles directly into a header barge. 



HARVESTING METHODS. 



The most efficient method of harvesting sunflowers for silage where 

 the crop has not lodged badly and the stalks are not too large in 

 diameter is with the ordinary corn or row binder. This machine 

 ties the stalks in bundles, making it easier to load and transport them 

 to the silage cutter. Everything possible should be done to reduce 

 to a minimum the handwork required. Farm laborers dislike to 

 handle sunflowers on account of the resinous exudation on the stems, 

 especially where they are cut or bruised, and also because of the 

 rough surfaces of the stems and leaves. 



At the Dubois (Idaho) sheep station an elevator was devised to 

 carry the bundles directly from the row binder into a header barge. 

 (Fig. 3.) Sunflower plants 8 to 9 feet tall were handled by the 



