Sorghum Culture. 21 



SEED, 



It is of the first importance to procure pure cane seed of the best 

 varieties. It is more profitable to pay for good seed, even a high price, 

 than to take any other as a gift. Procure seed only from reliable dealers, 

 who are conversant with the different varieties, or from cane growers whom 

 you know to be reliable men, and whose cane has produced good results in 

 quantity and quality. Cane will deteriorate in a cold climate, and should be 

 renewed from time to time with seed froin cane grown m a temperate 

 climate, natural to its wants. 



If the cane is a good variety, land that will produce 40 to 60 bushels 

 of corn per acre ought to yield from 150 to 200 gallons syrup. The yield 

 has reached as high as 250 or more gallons per acre. Where the yield falls 

 below 150 to 200 gallons, it should be taken as an indication that the seed 

 is impure; unless, indeed, the soil is not well adapted to the cane, or the 

 season a poor one. Of course the yield per acre depends not alone upon 

 the seed; for soil, season, cHmate and the percentage of waste in manu- 

 facture, all unite in determining the quantity and quality of the syrup. 



As all varieties of Sorghum will mix with each other and with Doura, 

 Broom Corn, Chocolate Corn and Millet, it is impossible to procure pure 

 seed where they are grown together, or on adjacent lands. All admixture 

 deteriorates the cane. In selecting seed, the richness of the juice is the 

 proper test of quality. If practicable, and your climate will permit, procure 

 seveSral different varieties of seed, which mature at different periods, including 

 the earliest and the latest. This will afford early work and a long season, and 

 you will be enabled to determine which is the best variety for your section. 



TEST OF SEED. 



The seed should be carefully tested long enough before planting to allow 

 time to procure other seed in case of its proving worthless. The time for 

 maturing of the cane before frost is too short to make it prudent to take 

 the risk of having to replant. 



The seed may be readily tested as follows : Take a small, clean box, of 

 any kind, with a cover (a blacking box will answer if washed clean), and 

 fill one-half full with clean sand; then saturate the sand with water, and, after 

 pouring off the excess of water, drop on the moist sand say 100 seeds, and 

 put on the cover; then place the box with the seed in a moderately warm 

 place or room, having a ternperature of say 70° Fahr. After a couple of 

 days remove the cover. In from three to five days about 90 out of 100 of 

 the seed, if good, will have germinated. If a smaller proportion germinates, 

 say three-fourths or four-fifths, the seed may be used, but a larger amount 

 should be planted than with good seed. If a still less proportion germinates, 

 other seed should be procured. In order to make it thorough and satis- 

 factory, the test should be repeated one or more times. By making sure of 

 the seed the danger and expense of replanting may be avoided. 



