THICK SEEDING OF MILO IN THE SAN ANTONIO REGION. 19 
ADVANTAGES OF THICK SEEDING. 
In the foregoing discussion reference has been made to close spacing 
and wide spacing rather than to thick seeding uid thin seeding. This 
terminology has been used because it conforms to the methods used 
in the experiments reported. For convenience in securing accurate 
counts and measurements, it was thought desirable to plant all the 
plats at the uniform rate of 5 pounds of seed to the acre, although it 
was necessary to replant twice in 1914, using a heavier rate. This is 
a relatively thick seeding if conditions are favorable. The plants were 
then thinned to varying distances within the rows to correspond 
approximately to the stands which would result from various rates of 
seeding. In actual practice the stand is regulated by varying the 
rate of seeding, as it is not generally considered practicable to thin 
the plants in a large field. The close spacing which seems to be 
desirable must be secured by relatively thick seeding. 
The results obtained from the tests covering two years show clearly 
two things: (1) That even in favorable seasons when the midge is 
not a factor the yields are not decreased by thick seeding and (2) 
that in years when the midge appears at about flowering time the 
yields are very materially increased when the tillers and branches 
are suppressed by thick seeding. 
From even the purely theoretical standpoint, where no other fac- 
tors are involved, it would seem that if a tiller is given a root of its 
own it will do better than when several heads are dependent upon 
a single rooting system, which is indicated in the results obtained in 
1913. In other words, when earliness is not a factor, the yields are 
not decreased w^hen the tillers are suppressed. In fact, the weight of 
evidence indicates that the thicker seedings are better. 
THICK SEEDING IN OTHER SECTIONS. 
It is appreciated that the number of tillers produced depends, 
aside from the spacing of the plants in the row, upon the productivity 
of the soil and upon the climatic conditions. Where the conditions 
vary considerably from those at San Antonio it is realized that the 
results would doubtless vary greatly with similar experiments. This 
does not in any way affect the value of these results nor prohibit the 
application of the principle, but simply shows the necessity of con- 
ducting experiments to determine the proper spacing of the plants in 
the row and the distance between rows for the locality. 
Aside from the data herein given, very little information is avail- 
able relative to the effect of various spacings on the behavior of grain- 
sorghum crops. That other factors are involved besides the avail- 
able moisture supply seems not to have been recognized. Frag- 
mentary statements are found here and there in various publications 
which have intimated that where thin rates of seeding were made 
