THE SORGHUMS 375 



ditions show that both sweet and grain-sorghums produce 

 a shallower root-system than corn. As a result of inves- 

 ~tigations at the Kansas Station, Ten Eyck found the roots 

 of kafir and Folger sorgo largely confined to the upper 18 

 inches of soil; while corn under the same conditions com- 

 pletely occupied the upper 30 inches of soil. The deepest 

 roots of kafir penetrated to a depth of three feet while 

 corn sent its deepest roots four feet. The roots of kafir 

 were especially fine and fibrous and completely filled the 

 upper 18 inches of soil. While the roots of the siteet 

 sorghum were somewhat less fine and hardly so abundant 

 in the upper soil strata as the kafir roots, they were said 

 to resemble the kafir more than the corn ropts.^ 



463. Tillers and branches. — A small bud is produced 

 at every node of the sorghum culm except the uppermost 

 node which bears • the peduncle and main seed-head. 

 Tillers result from the growth of those buds on the closely 

 crowded lower nodes at the surface of the soil. The num- 

 ber of these lower buds that develop into tillers will depend 

 upon the habit of the variety or the abtmdance of food 

 and moisture. From one to ten is the usual variation. 

 The tillei;s are usually shorter and later in maturing than 

 the main stalk. As a rule they produce seed. 



In long seasons of abundant moisture the buds borne at 

 the above-ground nodes may develop into branches, by 

 forcing their way out at the top of the leaf-sheaths or by 

 splitting the back of the sheaths. Usually the upper- 

 most bud develops first followed in succession by those 

 at the lower nodes. The number of buds that thus <ie- 

 velop into branches will depend upon the length of the 

 growing season and the moisture supply. Each branch is 

 a miniature stalk bearing leaves and a seed-head.. 

 ' Kans. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bui, 127, pp. 207-208. 



