BREEDING MILLET AND SORGO FOR DROUGHT ADAPTATION. 11 



Another advantage in growing this early strain is the profit to the 

 farmer in producing his own seed. Sorgo seed costs from $2 to $5 

 per 100 pounds * when bought from seedsmen, and farmers are not 

 likely to grow a large acreage unless they can produce their own seed, 

 There is probably a further advantage in having locally acclimated 

 seed. This has been shown to be true of other field crops, and it 

 will no doubt be found to be the case with sorgo. 



COMPARATIVE YIELDS OF SELECTED STRAINS OF SORGO. 



The strains of sorgo developed from selected individual plants of 

 the Minnesota Amber type of sorgo were tested during several sea- 

 sons in regard to their comparative forage production and drought 

 resistance at the Akron (Colo.) and Newell (S. Dak.) stations. The 

 principal tests were made in plats by planting in rows 3| feet apart, 

 cultivating between the rows. Other tests were made by planting 

 Dakota Amber sorgo in comparison with millet and Sudan grass in 

 drilled plats. Red Amber sorgo (commercial seed), Sudan grass, 

 and corn (Northwestern Dent) were included for comparison in some 

 of the tests. The results are summarized in Table V. 



At Akron the larger types of sorgo, Minnesota Amber and Red 

 Amber, have produced greater average yields of fodder than the early 

 dwarf type, Dakota Amber. (See Table V.) In 1913 the varieties 

 of sorgo were not weighed separately, on account of the very poor 

 stand secured, due to drought at planting time. A half-acre plat of 

 Dakota Amber which was grown for increase of seed yielded at the 

 rate of 1,675 pounds per acre of air-dry forage. 



At Newell the advantage also, taking the average of all yields, has 

 been somewhat in favor of the larger types. In 1913, on plats which 

 had produced millet the preceding year and on which the moisture 

 supply was consequently limited, Dakota Amber (2,150 pounds per 

 acre) yielded more than Red Amber (1,500 pounds per acre), but less 

 than the larger type of Minnesota Amber No. 341-2 (2,770 pounds 

 per acre). In 1914 the mean yields of Dakota Amber and of Red 

 Amber at Newell were the same, 3,400 and 3,420 pounds per acre, 

 respectively, while Minnesota Amber No. 341-2 made nearly 20 per 

 cent more, or 4,040 pounds. 



In spite of the larger yield of Minnesota Amber No. 341—2 there 

 is reason to believe that Dakota Amber is the more valuable variety. 

 It is early and will mature seed in any season, the stools are small 

 and are easily eaten by stock, and the fodder is relatively more leafy 

 than the larger type. Because of its smaller size Dakota Amber may 

 be planted more thickly than the larger sorgos. This has not been 

 done in the tests referred to, but it would probably increase the yield 

 of this dwarf type to plant it thicker. 



i Three seed companies in the Northwest quoted Minnesota Amber sorgo seed in their catalogues for 

 1914 at $3.50, $3.75. and $6 per 100 pounds, respeei ively. 



