8 BULLETIN 383, U. S. DEPAETMEISTT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



leaves 12 to 14, averaging 3 to 3i inches broad and 24 to 28 inches long; head 

 club shaped, erect, medium compact, 3 to 3i inches in diameter, 7 to 8 inches 

 long, usually well filled, the base of the head sometimes inclosed by the boot ; 

 seeds ovoid, slightly flattened, medium sized, brown, the upper one-third or one- 

 fourth exposed from the glume, shattering very little ; glumes ovate, black or 

 dark red-brown, glabrous or slightly pubescent, not awned. 



Schrock kafir has leaves as broad and somewhat longer than those 

 of BlackhuU kafir, so that the plant presents an exceedingly leafy 

 appearance (fig. 1). The head is about the same size, but not so 

 compact as that of the ordinary kafir. The seeds are pointed 

 at the tip, like those of, the sweet sorghums, and are like them also 

 in that they contain a noticeable percentage of tannin. The stem 

 and leaves remain green until the seed is ripe, and even the tillers 

 Avill mature before the main stalk shatters its seed. It requires from 

 100 to 120 days to mature fullj;', which will prevent the successful 

 production of this variety north of Kansas. Schrock kafir has been 

 tested with the idea that it might be found valuable for both grain 

 and fodder, but the tannin in the seed lessens its value as a grain 

 crop. 



Figure 2 shows typical heads of all five of the varieties described 

 in this bulletin and gives an idea of their size, shape, and color. 



COMPARISON OF THE FIELD RECORDS OF THE NEW SORGHUM 



VARIETIES. 



For the past three or four j^ears Dwarf hegari. Dwarf feterita. 

 Improved feterita, and A'\Tiite milo have been grown at three field 

 stations in the Great Plains region in comparison with standard va- 

 rieties of kafir, milo, and sorgo. As a result of these trials the new 

 varieties are being distributed to farmers in order to obtain their 

 judgment on the usefulness of these sorghums. The figures on yields 

 of forage and seed, with statements regarding stands, height of 

 plants, and length of the growing season, for Chillicothe, Tex., Ania- 

 rillo, Tex., and Haj^s, Kans., respectively, are given in Table I. The 

 size of the plats used in obtaining these data is stated in connection 

 with the table. The yields of fodder are given in terms of field-cured 

 material in all cases except at Hays, Ivans., in 1915, where the 

 moisture content in the fodder was corrected to a uniform basis by 

 means of air-dried samples. 



