14 Journal of Agricultural Research voI.x.no. i 



drying oven at ioo° to 105° C. until all the moisture was driven off. 

 After dr>nng, the samples were cooled in a desiccator over sulphuric add 

 and weighed, so that the amount of water and dry matter could be 

 obtained. 



STAGES EXAMINED 



The experiments for the three years were conducted with plants at 

 approximately five stages of development. 



Stage I. — ^The com plants had a height of i foot 6 inches and pos- 

 sessed 4 fully and 4 partially unfolded leaves. The milo and kafir had 

 the same number of leaves as the com, but the plants had reached a 

 height of only i foot. The experiments of June 24 and July 9, 1914, were 

 conducted with plants at this stage of development. 



Stage IT — The experiments reported for July 13 and 22, 1914, and for 

 July 20-21 and 26-27, 191 6, were made with plants at this stage. The 

 corn plants were from 3 feet to 3 feet 6 inches high and had 8 to 10 fully 

 unfolded and 3 to 5 partially unfolded leaves. The Dwarf milo stood 2 

 feet high and was just beginning to "boot," while the Blackhull kafir 

 had 6 fully and 4 partially unfolded leaves and had reached a height of 

 from 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches. 



Stage III. — ^The corn had reached a height of from 4 to 5 feet. The 

 plants had from 12 to 14 leaves and the tassels were just showing. The 

 kafir stood 3 feet 6 inches high and showed 8 fully and 3 partially 

 unfolded leaves. The milo plants were just past the "booting" stage 

 and had from 10 to 12 leaves on a plant. The experiments of July 17 

 and 18, 1 91 5, and of August i and 2, 191 6, were conducted with plants 

 at this period of growth. 



Stage IV. — Plants at this stage of development furnished the material 

 for experiments carried on July 28-29, August 3-4, lo-ii, 15-16, 1914; 

 July 31, August I, 1 91 5, and for the experiment of August lo-ii, 191 6. 

 The com plants had reached their full leaf development, and the ears were 

 beginning to form. The kafir stood 4 to 5 feet high, and in most cases 

 the plants were just beginning to "boot." The milo was 3 feet 6 

 inches high and for the various experiments was in stages of development 

 from blooming to the milk stage of the grain. 



Stage V. — The experiment of August 25-26, 191 6, was the only one 

 conducted at this period of development. The grain of the com had 

 reached the early milk stage, the kafir was in bloom, and the grain of 

 the milo was ready to harvest. 



GENERAL DISCUSSION OF EXPERIMENTAL DATA 



Nine experiments were conducted in 191 4, two in 191 5, and four in 1916. 

 Four of the experiments in 191 4 extended only through the daylight 

 hours, but aU of the other experiments ranged in length from 24 to 40 

 hours. In all, the amount of water and dry matter in the leaves was 



