CHAPTER IV 
DATE AND METHOD OF PLANTING 
In Hlinois and in the other states of the middle 
West, broom-corn is planted from the middle of 
May until the middle of June and harvested in about 
ninety days from the date of planting. Where a 
very extensive acreage is grown the fields are planted 
at intervals of a week or ten days, in order to pro- 
vide ample time for the harvesting of each field 
while the plants are at the proper stage of maturity. 
The best date for planting will depend upon the 
climatic conditions and upon the season, but under 
no conditions should the seed be placed in the 
ground until the soil is warm enough to insure the 
prompt sprouting of the seed. 
Broom-corn will not stand as early planting as 
corn, for if the seed is placed in a cold soil it will 
germinate very poorly and give an irregular stand 
of weak plants. The fact that it requires later plant- 
ing than corn is a point in favor of the growing of 
broom-corn, since it permits of a more satisfactory 
and equitable distribution of the spring work. 
Method of Planting.—In some regions it may be 
necessary and desirable to time the planting with 
reference to the weather conditions at harvest time 
in order to secure a dry season, during which the 
proper curing of the brush may be effected. In Cali- 
fornia the planting is made about one month earlier 
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