312 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



GiJAiN-soHciiirM iNVESTK^vTiONs. — The work with drv-huul jxrain- 

 sor<2:huin crops has continued in char<j:e of ]\Ir. Carlelon Iv. Ball, 

 Aijronoinist. The season of 1000 was marked bv intense droujiht 

 dnrino^ July, August, and September in the <^rain-sorfi:hum belt. Ex- 

 cellent opportunity was a Horded to study the adaptability of ditferent 

 varieties to such conditions. Dwarf and early varieties of kafirs and 

 milos produced 2.5 to GO per cent of their normal yield, in comparison 

 with ordinai-y laro:er and later varieties which produced, on an aver- 

 acfe, 10 to 25 per cent of their normal yield. Such droughts probably 

 occur on an average of once in three years. ]\Ierely as a form of 

 drought insurance, the Great Plains farmer is advised to plant some 

 of these more drought-evading varieties each year, even if he prefers 

 larger and later varieties for other reasons. Planting the ordinary 

 varieties at about one-half the usual rate per acre will permit fair 

 grain production even in dry 3^ears. 



Experiments have been continued with Sudan durra and Blackhull 

 kowliang. The durra showed itself to be a fair producer under condi- 

 tions of drought. The Blackhull kowliang is still regarded as highly 

 promising, but progress has been retarded by numerous field hybrids 

 due to natural crossings because of the limited space available. 



A considerable number of chemical analyses of different varieties 

 have been made in cooperation with the Bureau of Chemistry, and 

 many more are now in progress. There is considerable variation in 

 the fat content and protein content of different varieties and different 

 strains. The maximum protein content found was 1G.6 per cent and 

 the average 12.2 per cent, wdiich is higher than the average for corn 

 varieties. In conjunction with the cooperative milling laboratory of 

 the Office of Grain Standardization, preliminary experiments in mill- 

 ing some of the best varieties of grain sorghums have been started. 

 It has been shown that an excellent quality of meal, comparable with 

 corn meal, can be produced. Cooking tests made in a small way show 

 attractive results Avith the meal, and demonstrate also that the flour 

 can be used in mixtures. 



Rice investigations. — During the past year rice investigations, in 

 charge of Mr. Charles E. Chambliss, Expert, have been continued 

 and extended. Experiments have been begun at Beaumont, Tex., 

 and an assistant has been stationed there to look after the experi- 

 mental w^ork. Much satisfaction has resulted from the experiments 

 at Biggs, Butte County, Cal., indicating the possibility of profitable 

 rice cultivation in that region on a commercial scale. An important 

 feature now is to determine the varieties best adapted and the best 

 methods of soil preparation and of handling the crop. 



Experiments were continued in South Carolina in the investiga- 

 tion of rice blast, and arrangements have been made for more ex- 

 tensive and thorough work in that district. Attempts to obtain 

 earlier maturing and higher yielding strains of rice are being con- 

 tinued. A series of experiments is now under way to determine the 

 effects of change of soil and climate on the yield and composition of 

 rice grown from the same original seed. 



Cereal rusts, smuts, and other diseases. — In the cereal-disease 

 work, in charge of Mr. Edward C. Johnson, Pathologist, further re- 

 searches into the life history and physiology of rusts have been made 

 and the relations between meteorological conditions and rust epi- 

 demics explained. Papers have been prepared on the causes of floret 



