Octi. I9I9 Notes on the Composition of the Sorghum Plant 



of protein throughout the plant but the absolute weight of protein in 

 each plant remains practically constant through the stages of growth 

 studied here. This is no doubt brought about by the great increase in 

 nitrogen-free extract sugars in the cane and starch in the seed heads. 



Figure ii contains the ether extract curves. They indicate that in 

 all parts of the plant except the tops the ether extract remains constant. 

 In the tops there is a slight increase. This constituent is not prominent 



NO. DAYS FROM DATE PANICLES APPEARED 



Fig. 6.— Total weight of proximate constituents in the seed head of a single sorghum plant. 



in any part of the plant. The higher percentages in the leaves are due 

 in large part to the chlorophyll. 



The crude fiber curves are shov/n in figure 12. The curves for the 

 bagasse and for the leaves are practically horizontal. The very sharp 

 decrease in the fiber in the tops causes a marked decrease in the percent- 

 age of fiber in the whole plant also. 

 122503°— 19 2 



