SORGHUM. 



45 



the seed is broadcasted by hand or when it is sown 

 with the grain drill, — all the tubes in use, — one 

 bushel of seed per acre will usually be sufficient, 

 although some growers advocate sowing as much as 

 two bushels per acre. ^Yhere the moisture is likely 

 to prove inadequate to the needs of the growing 

 crop, results more satisfactory will be obtained by 

 reducing the quantity of the seed to be sown. When 

 grown in single rows with a wide space between 

 them, a few quarts of seed will suffice per acre, but 

 in growing this crop for soiling uses it will, usually, 

 be found advantageous to sow not less than a peck 

 of seed per acre, whatsoever the method of growing 

 the crop that may be adopted. 



The time for sowing the seed will, of course, 

 vary with such conditions as relate to climate and 

 rotation. It is a mistake to plant before warm and 

 settled weather has set in. When sown too early 

 the germination of the seed will be imperfect, the 

 early growth will be sickly in character, and the 

 weeds will push on ahead of the sorghum, so when 

 the crop starts to grow no conditions, howsoever 

 favorable, can make it a success. A crop grown 

 under similar conditions, except that it is not sown 

 until the weather is sufficiently warm, will prove 

 much more satisfactory than the former. The best 

 rule to follow, perhaps, is that which defers sowing 

 the sorghum seed until the corn crop has been 

 planted. 



Of course sorghum may be sown for soiling at 

 any subsequent time, so long as there is time enough 

 to secure sufficient growth to pay for the young crop. 

 It must, of course, be harvested before the autumn 



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