Synoptical Table of Varieties. 15 



SYNOPTICAL TABLE OF VARIETIES. 



The following synoptical table of the varieties of Sorghum cultivated at 

 the Department of Agriculture during the years 1879, 1880, 1881 and 1882, 

 is from the comprehensive book on Sorghum, written by Dr. Peter Collier, 

 (late chemist of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.,) and 

 published by Messrs. Robert Clarke & Co. , Cincinnati, O. 



Botanical accuracy is not claimed for the table, as it has been worked out 

 from single dry heads, and without a careful comparison of the varieties 

 growing in the field. It is believed, however, that it will be of great 

 assistance in aiding the practical farmer to distinguish, with the aid of the 

 illustrations, whatever variety he may have under cultivation. 



It is based upon a similar table prepared by Mr. F. Peck, and published 

 in the Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture, 1865. 



77/.? Ripe Grain. 

 I. Longer than the glumes (husks). 

 (A.) Panicle or head dense. 

 I. Glumes black. 



a. Inconspicuous. 



LiSeriattj or Imphee. 



Head short, 6 to 7 inches long, dense, cylindrical, obtuse, gen- 

 eral color dark brown. 

 Glumes small, obtuse, black shining ; outer one hairy on the 



margin. 

 Seed smallest of all varieties, round, obtuse, tapering to the base ; 

 hilum or point of attachment of a lighter color and promi- 

 nent. 

 d. Conspicuous. 



Seeds brown ; effect of head black. (Grain at times hardly 

 longer than the glumes.) 

 Oomseeana. 



Head slender, erect, 8 to 9 inches long ; branches closely ap- 

 pressed, but not dense. 

 Glumes black, pointed ; outer one keeled, smooth and open. 

 Seed deep brown, and visible between the open glumes ; plane con- 

 vex, acute at both ends. 

 Black Top. 



Head larger and broader than the preceding, blacker and more 

 dense; seed lighter. 

 Bear Tail. 



Denser head and longer glumes than in preceding, resembling 

 in some respects a compacted Early Amber. 

 Iowa Red Top. 



An Oomseeana cane, with large, prominent seeds and smaller 



glumes. 



Seeds white. 



White Mammoth. 



Head very dense, expanding toward the flattened top. 



Glumes shining black, prominent. 



Seed white, large, flattened ; hilum inconspicuous. 



