BROOM-CORN EXPERIMENTS AT WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA. ' 31 
corn, but the thin rate produced 9.3 per cent, while in the Dwarf 
that year the proportion varied from 3.4 per cent in the thick to 
26.3 per cent in the thin rate. In 1916 suckers were produced in 
all rates in both varieties, though the number in the Standard was 
much smaller than in the Dwarf variety. In 1917 the Standard 
broom corn produced suckers in all three rates, but in the Dwarf they 
were present only in the normal and the thin rates. In 1918 there 
were no suckers in the Standard broom corn sown at the thick rate, 
but they were present in all three rates in the Dwarf variety. The 
tendency to sucker is present in both varieties, though to a larger 
degree in the Dwarf than in the Standard. The development of 
this tendency is influenced largely by environing condition. Stand 
is an important factor. Thin stands aid the development of suckers, 
while thick stands suppress them. 
The percentage of stalks headed varies in the plats sown at the 
different rates in the same year and in the same rates in the dif- 
ferent years. This is due in part to seasonal conditions and in 
part to the number of suckers produced. In the years when sucker- 
ing was reduced to the minimum, the percentage of headed stalks 
usually increased as the stand decreased. The reverse is true when 
the plants sucker profusely. This is so especially when the suckers 
are late and none of them produce heads. The rates of seeding 
used in this experiment appear to have had no appreciable effect 
on the height of the plants. 
The highest 5-year yields of good brush of the Standard variety 
were made in two years at the thick rate of seeding and in two 
years at the thin rate. The highest total yields of this variety were 
produced in two years at the thick rate and in three years at the 
normal rate of seeding. The Dwarf variety made the highest yields 
of good brush at the thick rate during three years, and in one year 
each at the normal and thin rates. In total brush produced, the 
thick rate led in two years and the other two rates each led in 
one year and tied in another year. 
The yield can not be considered the only factor in determining 
the proper rate of seeding. The length of the brush to be produced 
is also an important factor. Thick stands tend to produce short 
brush and thin stands long brush. The fiber may be of good quality 
but too short to be self-working, or it may be too long to be worked 
to good advantage without waste in making brooms of average 
length. Hurl brush that ranges from 18 to 22 inches works to 
best advantage in the manufacture of parlor and house brooms. 
Longer brush is required for heavy warehouse and street brooms. 
Short brush, ranging in length from 12 to 16 inches, is used for © 
insides and for covers to some extent. _ 
