382 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



A. Peduncle and panicle erect. 



1. Panicle loose, open, branches spreading to horizontal or droop- 

 ing; rachis two- thirds as long to equaling the panicle. 



Empty glumes black, hairy I. Amber 



Empty glumes black, smooth II. Minn. Amber 



Empty glumes red. III. Red Amber 



Empty glumes light brown IV. Honey 



Rachis less than one-half the length of the 

 panicle: 



Panicle light, drooping branches, seeds 



orange to red V. Collier 



Panicle heavy, seeds orange VI. Planter's 



Friend 

 * 2. Panicle close, compact. 



Empty glumes equal to seeds, seed red. VI I. Orange 

 Empty glumes half as long as the small 



seeds, seeds dark red VIII. Sumac 



Empty glumes narrow IX. Sapling 



B. Peduncle recurved (goosenecked) or sometimes 



erect. 



Panicle black, glumes awned X. Gooseneck 



A brief description of the varieties that are most impor- 

 tant in the cotton-belt is given below: 



470. Sumac sorghum, often known as " Red top," 

 produces a very compact, deep red seed-head somewhat 

 similar to Sumac, which character gives it its name. Under 

 average conditions the plants grow 7 to 8 feet high and are 

 rather stout and erect. Sumac sorghum matures in from 

 105 to 120 days. Owing to its high value for sirup, forage, 

 and silage it is especially popular in the South, particu- 

 larly throughout the Piedmont region and in Oklahoma 

 and Texas. It is said to be the most uniform of the sweet 

 sorghum varieties. 



471. Orange sorghum (Fig. 65) usually does not grow 

 quite as tall as Sumac, and prqduces rather stout erect 

 stalks, the seed-heads of which are rather long, of medium 



