Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-24
SORGHUM PLANTING.
A semi-Tropical Plant Which Requires
Considerable Care.

In planting sorghum, it should be
borne in mind that the plant is more or
less tropical in its nature, and hence it is
not wise to begin planting too early.
Directly after corn planting is soon
enough. The ground must be well
warmed up before planting, so as to
push the termination of the seed as rap
idly as possible. Those who have grown
sorghum know how slowly is its growth
for the first week OF two. This is the
critical time in the life of the crop, and
it is important that it be given all the
chances possible. This is the time, too,
when the weeds arc pushing up and
growing with the greatest vigor. BY
defcrring the planting, chance is given
for weeds to start, and then be Killed
just before planting the sorghum.
To keep the weeds from injuring the
crop is matter Of great Importance.
We have no doubt that more loss re-
suits to sorghum-growers through foul
land than by any other means; and the
necessity of having the land for this
crop as clean as possible from weeds,
and to keep those that are there in sub
joction, can not be too strongly urged.
A good preparation for sorghum, both
to clear the land of weeds and to give
good tilth to the soil, is to plow the land
early in the fall, so as to give the seeds
that are there a chance to germinate
before spring as carly as the ground is
in condition, letting it lay until time to
plant, when good narrowing with
such an implement as fertilizer, will
kill all weeds that have started, and
leave the soil fine and mellow.
To hasten the termination of the seed
it may be soaked twonty-four hours in
water before planting Do not, in
planting, cover the seed too deep.
When one remembers how readily sor.
ghum and other seed will sprout when
scattered on the surface of the ground
and subjected to the spring rains, il
would seem as though no covering was
needed; and, in fact, but little covering
is needed if the other conditions arc
right. A general rule for covering seeds
is twice or three times their diameters.
II the soil is moist, seeds planted to that
depth will get the warm rays of the sun,
como up sooner and stronger than when
planted deep. 1t is often the case that
good seed is planted so deep that the
entire vital energies of the seed are ex-
hausted before the sprout can reach the
surface; or, if it does manage to come
through, it is weak, and makes but q
feeble growth.
AS to planting in drills or hills, both
systems have their advocates, each
claiming that their system will yield the
most products. If the ground is quite
clean, drilling Is probably the preferable
way; but if tits full of weeds, then plant
In hills at least and it may be better to
plant in checks so that the cultivator
can run both ways.
With the ground properly prepared
and free from trash and Jumps, the best
implement to cultivate sorghum with al
first is a smoothing harrow. This can
be used until the plants are four or five
inches high, and, If used frequently and
after every rain, 1t will be found to re-
duce the subsequent wedding very much.
Start the cultivator as soon as the har.
row is laid aside, ard keep it agoing
until the sorghum is knce-high, after
which time its growth is so rapid that il
soon shades the ground and keeps the
weeds in check.
The soil best suited to sorghum is Q
fertile but sandy loan, not containing
an excess Of vegetable matter, and vel
draincd.- Colman's Rural World.