EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



451 



for forage due attention be paid to the preservation of tke dry matter of 

 the leaves. 



Turning to the protein, the next table gives the relative proportions of 

 the total protein content of the plant that are found in the different parts 

 of the plant at the different dates. 



Per cent of total protein content found in leaves, stalks and ears. 



The growth of the ear at the expense of the other parts of the plant is 

 conspicuous and the fact that when ripe the leaves contain 23.80 per cent 

 of all the protein in the plant is worthy of notice. In this case as in the 

 case of the dent corn already studied the leaves include the husks. Of 

 the albuminoid nitrogen the ear when ripe contains less than half and the 

 leaves 36. GO %. 



Finally examining the distribution of the N. free extract at the several 

 dates the following table results: 



Per cent of total content of JV. free extract found in leaves, stalls and ears. 



August 25 



September 1 

 September 15 



The ears are rich in starch and sugar but not as rich relatively in these 

 constituents as in protein as shown above. 



In the summer of 1896 a field of sorghum was making an apparently 

 unusual growth and it was determined to carry on the same line of 

 experimentation with this crop as with the corn. Four representative 

 stalks from every fourth hill were therefore selected up to the number 

 of 100 stalks, on the same four dates as were taken in the sweet corn ex- 

 periment. The tops were cut off with as little stalk as possible, the leaves 

 were stripped and the leaves, stalks and tops weighed separately. The fol- 

 lowing table gives the weights of these different parts on the dates 

 indicated: 



Weights of leaves, stalls and tops of sorghum. 



Angnst 25 



September I. 

 S»i>tombpr 8 

 September 15 



Leaves. 

 Lbs. 



17.5 

 17. 

 20.5 

 22. 



Stalks. 

 Lbs. 



81.75 

 70.(0 

 77.5 

 78.5 



