26 BULLETIN 698^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



the milos, the percentage of erect heads. Finally, in some cases, 

 data are given covering the weight of the heads and of the total crop 

 and the proportion by weight of the heads in the total crop and of 

 seed in both heads and total crop. 



The different groups of varieties vary considerably in the size of 

 the plants and in earliness and therefore in probable water require- 

 ment. From a study of the tables it will be noted that they also 

 vary greatly in their ability to produce from year to year under 

 Panhandle conditions. In the first place, long-season or late-maturing 

 varieties have ripening periods that fall after the warm weather 

 conducive to rapid ripening is well past. Hence, early-maturing 

 varieties are at an advantage. In the second place, in the frequent 

 seasons when the water supply is deficient, dwarf and early varieties 

 with water requirements which are comparatively low or of compara- 

 tively short duration are best able to produce good yields. 



The tabulated data show clearly that such varieties as milo and 

 Dwarf milo, which are both comparatively early and dwarf, nearly 

 always outyield the larger and later kafirs. Among the kafirs them- 

 selves the advantage is always with the earlier and dwarfer varieties. 



The Milo-Durra Group. 



The two subgroups and the varieties included in each have been 

 described previously and separated by means of a simple key. These 

 plants are low to midtaU, with midsized dry stems and only seven or 

 eight leaves. The heads are broad and comparatively short, either 

 erect or on more or less recurved peduncles. The seeds are either 

 brown or white, broadly oval or sublenticular in outline, and more 

 or less flattened. The group contains two out of the three com- 

 mercially important varieties, namely, milo and Dwarf milo, the 

 third being Blackhull kafir. 



All the varieties, except one or two of the milo hybrids, are early 

 to midearly in maturing. The dry stems ripen with or before the 

 seeds, and the leaves also become dry and often break off and blow 

 away in windy weather. On the whole, the water requirements of 

 the milos and durras are probably as low as those of any of the groups. 

 Their earliness requires that the water supply be maintained during 

 only a comparatively short period. These adaptations give them 

 the power to produce well even in somewhat unfavorable seasons. 

 Their chief handicap is a tendency to produce recurved, or gooseneck, 

 heads in aU the varieties except feterita. 



The residts obtained from the different varieties in this group are 

 presented in Tables VI to XVIII, inclusive. In general, Dwarf milo 

 is the best of aU the varieties. Standard milo and feterita rank 

 second, with White milo third. 



