THE ANNUAL GRASSES 231 



acre as are desired of corn plants to the acre, which result 

 may be had by using from 10 to 20 pounds of seed. When 

 grown for hay, the seed may either be closely sown with a 

 drill, which requires about one bushel of seed per acre, 

 or it may be drilled in rows as it is for sirup, which re- 

 quires only about one-third as much seed. If weeds are 

 plentiful, it is best to cultivate during the early part of the 



Fig. 81. — Cutting sorghum — one of the best forage crops for the 

 Middle West. 



growing season, although good crops may sometimes be 

 grown without cultivation. 



230. Harvesting for sirup. — Harvesting for sirup 

 should be done when the seeds are in the late milk stage, 

 since at this time the stems contain the best quality of 

 juice. The heads and leaves should be removed from 

 the stems before the latter are passed through the mill, 

 since they impart a disagreeable taste to the sirup. They 



