TDIE FROM PLAXTEXG REQUIRED, ETC. 



119 



TDIE FROM PLAN'TING REQUIRED BY THE SEVERAL VARIETIES OF SOR- 

 GHUM TO REACH CERTAIN STAGES OF DE"ST:LOPMEyT. 



The following table will give the number of days required by 31 

 American varieties, and 3 received from France, to reach certain stages 

 of development. This table can be only regarded as relatively true 

 for the several varieties as the season of 1881 was in Washington 

 (where these were grown), one of almost unprecedented drought, as 

 will be seen by reference to tables giving the meteorological data for 

 the several years of experiment, the results of which are largely re- 

 corded in this volume. 



For the purpose of accurately recording the observations in the field 

 from day to day, the following list of stages was made out : 



stage. 



Development of Plant. 



About one week before opening of panicle. 



Immediately before opening oi" panicle. 



Panicle just'appearing. 



Panicle two-thirds out. 



Panicle entirely out; no stem above upper leaf. 



Panicle beginning to bloom on top, 



Flowers all out; stamens beginning to drop. 



Seed well set. 



Seed entering the milky state. 



Seed becoming doughy. 



Seed doughy, beeoniing dry. 



Seed almost dry, easily crushed. 



Seed dry, easily split. 



Sucker in bloom. 



Sucker seed in milk. 



Sut'ker st-ed in dough. 



Sucker seed hard. 



After sucker seed hard. 



By the sucker in this case, is meant the off-shoot from the upper joints 

 of the parent stalk upon which, if the season permits, panicles will 

 mature. It will be seen, by consulting the tabic, that the Honduras 

 variety was a month later than the Early Amber in showing its pani- 

 cle, and that before the Honduras was in bloom the Early Amber was 

 quite ripe. 



