EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



453 



the leaves is apparent. If we were to look at the albuminoid nitrogen 

 alone we should find 39.33 4 of the total content of this constituent in the 

 leaves, 3G.38 % in the tops and 24.29 4 in the stalks. 



The most abundant nutrient in sorghum is the nitrogen free extract con- 

 taining the sugar. The distribution of this group of nutrients in the differ- 

 ent parts of the sorghum is shown in the next table: 



Per cent of total content of N. free extract of sorghum plant found in leaves, sialics and tops. 



August 25 



September 1 

 September 15 



Leaves. 

 Per cent. 



11.86 

 14.77 

 11.74 



Stalks. 

 Per cent. 



Tops. 

 Per cent. 



75.78 

 73.51 

 73. 69 



9.36 

 11 11 



14.88 



i 



Nearly three-quarters of the starch, sugar and other soluble carbo- 

 hydrates is thus found in the stems of the sorghum, when the plants are 

 mature. As the analyses reported in the table above show, the leaves and 

 heads are relatively rich in protein and ash. 



EXPERIMENT IN 1897. 



In 1897 the question of the relative development of the ears, stalks and 

 leaves was again studied, the corn being taken from Field 8. Four exam- 

 inations were made, the first August 10th, as the corn was just tasseled 

 out, the second August 25th, when the ears were going into the roasting 

 stage, the third September 6th, when the kernels were beginning to glaze 

 and the fourth September 15th, when the com was fully glazed and ripe. 

 The weights of the leaves, stalks and ears on those dates are recorded in 

 the next table. Two hundred stalks were used in each case. 



Weights of leaves, stalks and ears of 200 stalks dent com, 1897. 



The weather was very dry and hot after the first of August, and there is 

 no increase in the gross weight of the corn plant. This is shown by the 

 fact that on August 10th, 1,311 cornstalks bearing ears, weighed 2,938 

 pounds or an average of 2.09 pounds per plant. On August 25th, 1,329 

 stalks weighed 3.290 pounds or an average of 2.5 pounds per plant; on 

 September Gth, 1,352 stalks weighed but 3,340 pounds or an average of 

 2.48 pounds per plant and on September 15th, 1,308 stalks weighed 2,954 

 pounds or but 2.2G pounds per stalk. The corn field was therefore bearing 

 its largest gross weight of corn on August 25th, when the ears were in the 

 early roasting stage. It does not follow, however, that at that time there 

 was present the greatest amount either of d.ry matter or of valuable feed- 

 ing material. 



