Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-04-05
sORGUM.


planting becomes very simple. The spaces De
tween the rows may be little less than are al
lowed for corn. The object being large crol
of stalks, without much regard to the produc-
ton Of seed, the plants will bear more crowdint
than would be sonsistant with full yield IN
corn crop Hence the rows, in fertile soil, AMI
on favorable southern exposure, need not 6t
more than 2 feet apart, and If the planting
is done in sshill,'1 IL or feet apart IN th'
rows. the spaces between the rows may be re-
duced to feet.
The question, as to whether the pllnting
should be done by drilling" in ahills" IS still
an open question, on which farmers differ lE
opinion. The chief cause of this difference, we
presume, is to be found in the difference of sol
and location. The circumstances limiting the
extent to which the stalks may be crowded
are, first, the degree of fertility in the soil, and
its natural warmth secondly, the situation oi
the surface with reference to the sun. II these
are both favorable the soil will bear the largest
number of plauts that can be brought to tull
growth and maturity on q given quantity OF
land.
Then comes in the secondary question OF con-
Yenience in the planting and culture OF the
crop.
Soil of given quality will undoubtedly pro-
duce larger stalks of cane when drilled than
when planted in hills Because there is then
the most general distribution Of stalks over the
surface, that is consistent with proper tllage OF
the land-the plants being nowhere crowded in
the rows.
But, on the other hand, the mode of cultiVa-
ting in hills has the advantage of greater conve>
tnience in planting and hoeing.
II then the object is to make the land yield q
full crop Of the largest possible stalks, we be-
lieye the plan of drilling is best. This should
be done with care If the soil Ia at all cloddy,
| it is best to let hand follow the plough which
draws the furrows for planting, with a garden
rake, and remove the olods from the bottom
of the burrows. The seeds should then be scat
tered uniformly along the row--tWo Or three
times as many being put in as will be wanted 70
produce stalks. The covering should be with
very loose mould, and not more thar an inch IN
depth. When the plants are ofeonvenient size,
they should be thinned out, &c as to stand at q
distance of to inches apart.
Ifland Is more abundant than labor, the
method of planting In hills is probably best
For the amount of labor necessary is then less,
both in planting and cultiyatng. In this the
burrows need not be so carefully prepared for
the seeds are to be dropped IN clusters, and the
persons dropping may, to great extent, avoid
iarg clods The distance between the hills is
thinning is done, from to stalks are left
standing ia each group.
fiat all convenient it is best to plant as soon
after rain as the soil will bear tillage. Be-
cause, if the seeds have been previously soaked
in warm water for about 48 hours they will
then come up in 4 or days, and most proba-
bly escape the inorustation of the surface by
rain falling soon after the planting has been
done.
QUANTITY PRODUCED. An acre planted in
drills. with an average distance of 1~2 feet be-
tween the rows, and six inches between the
stalks in the rows, will produce about 25 900
stalks.
The same quantity of land in hills, the spaces
between the rows being IL feet, and the bills
being two feet apart, with an average of five
stalks to the hill, will produce 10000 stalks.
But in the former case the stalks growing
s.ngly are usually larger than they are in the
latter case, where they grow in clusters. The
large stalks contain q greater per centum ofsac>
hariue matter than the small ones, and thus
ompensate-probably more than compensate
for inferiority in number. Hence the conclu-
sion of many farmers, that crop in drills is
more productive of molasses, than the same
quantity of land planted IN hills.
PREoAUTIoN.- careful to procure pure
seed and to keep it pure. If this crop has but
q few stalks of broom corn growing with 1t, or
iii is planted near broom corn, the bloom of
the two plants mingles, and kind of hybrid
or mongrel plant is produced. When the puri-
ty of the crop has been thus impaired, the
quantity Of inola ,ses is diminished. The differ
ent varieties OF Sorghum will thus become
mixed in the same way. To prevent this, they
must be planted so far apart that the pollen
from the bloom of one kind win not be blown
upon the heads OF the other kind.-Lsr. Ga
zette