THE ANNUAL GRASSES 237 



leading in the production of broomcorn, in 1909 the 

 production of these states being over 90 per cent of 

 the entire broomcorn crop of the United States. The 

 yield of brush per acre varies greatly, from 500 to 800 

 pounds of the standard and from 200 to 400 pounds of 

 the dwarf varieties being considered good yields. The 

 price varies from year to year with the supply. In 

 years of large production the price goes down, while in 

 years of small production the price is high. In 1909, a 

 year of partial crop failure, the price reached $200 per 

 ton, while in other years, of overproduction, the price has 

 sometimes fallen as low as $25 or $30 per ton. The 

 average price for the standard type is probably from $80 

 to $100 per ton, while that of the dwarf is often higher. 



238. Cultural methods. — Standard varieties are 

 planted in rows from 3| to 4 feet apart, with the plants 

 from 3 to 5 inches apart in the rows. The rows for dwarf 

 varieties may be made 3 to 3| feet apart, with the plants 

 from 2 to 4 inches apart in the rows. Broomcorn should 

 not be planted near other sorghums, if seed is to be saved 

 from the field, since it readily mixes with the other sor- 

 ghums. The seed is usually planted just after com plant- 

 ing, since it requires the soil to be well warmed up before 

 it will grow readily. The cultivation during the early 

 stages of growth is similar to that of corn. 



239. Harvesting. — For the best quality of brush, the 

 harvesting should be done at the time when the flowers 

 are in full bloom. The heads from the standard varieties 

 may be more easily removed if the plants are bent down 

 or " tabled." The heads may then be removed with a 

 sharp knife, and laid on the table formed by the bent-over 

 stalks, for partial curing. The dwarf varieties need not 

 be tabled, and the heads are usually pulled out. The 



