BULLETIN OF THE ^ 
fa 
No. 1S8 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief. 
March 15. 1915. 
THE IMPORTANCE OF THICK SEEDING IN THE PRODUCTION 
OF MILO IN THE SAN ANTONIO REGION. 1 
By Stephen H. Hastings, Farm Superintendent. 
INTRODUCTION. 
One of the most important needs in the agriculture of the San 
Antonio region of Texas is a dependable grain crop. For a number 
of years, corn was generally looked upon as the best grain crop for 
the region, but it has not proved to be dependable. The small 
grains are even less satisfactory. Because of the difficulties and 
failures of local grain production, it has been necessary to import 
a large proportion of the grain needed for local consumption. 
Experiments have been conducted for several years at the San 
Antonio Experiment Farm to determine whether or not the grain 
sorghums could be depended upon to increase the local supply, as 
well as to give some stability to local production. The two prin- 
cipal grain crops of the region are oats and corn. The average yields 
per acre of oats and corn from the rotation experiments for the past 
six years and of early-planted grain sorghum (milo) for the past four 
years at the San Antonio Experiment Farm are shown in Table I. 
Table I. — Average yields of oats, corn, and milo at the San Antonio Experiment Farm 
for the years 1909 to 1914, inclusive. 
Year. 
Yield per acre (bushels) . 
Year. 
Yield per acre (bushels) . 
Oats. 
Corn. 
Milo. 
Oats. 
Corn. 
Milo. i 
1 
1909 
9.8 
8.0 
10.6 
'"32.'6" 
1912 
26.75 
11.70 
15.70 
34.1 
34.9 
52.6 
40.0 
47.7 
43.2 
1910 
10.70 
8.50 
1913 
1911... 
1914. . 
These figures indicate that, in the main, milo gives larger yields 
and is more dependable than either oats or corn. The average yield 
per acre of oats for the past four years, 1911 to 1914, was 15.7 bushels; 
of corn, 33.1 bushels; while the average yield of milo for the same 
period was 40 bushels. The last three years have been unusually 
favorable for corn production and the yields were considerably 
higher than may be expected, as the average yield for the pas^ eight 
1 The experiments were conducted in cooperation with the Office of Cereal Investigations. 
76831°— Bull. 188—15 1 
