26 BULLETIN 353, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
These results, which agree fairly well with the averages for timothy 
and alfalfa cited on page 23, show a decided decrease in moisture per- 
centage as the crop approaches maturity. This difference is least in 
alfalfa and greatest in timothy, although in sorghum it was also con- 
siderable. The exact relation of the three crops as regards the 
moisture content at different periods of their growth is not apparent, 
because the stage of maturity when samples were taken was not 
identical in the three crops. It is quite probable that the mature seed 
stage of timothy, when the moisture content reached the very lowest 
figure, 51.2 per cent, was relatively later in the life period of the crop 
than was the ripe stage in the sorghums. This may account partly 
for the rather decided difference in the amount of moisture contained 
by the two crops at this stage. It appears, however, that sorghum 
has an unusually high moisture content throughout its entire life 
period. The fact that the very young sorghum plant is approxi- 
mately 90 per cent water, while the young timothy is only 77 per 
cent and the young alfalfa 79 per cent water, suggests one reason why 
cutting sorghum when it is very immature affects the feeding value of 
the resulting hay so much more seriously than a like treatment does 
timothy or alfalfa. 
These results are more apparent in the summary (Table VII), 
where the averages are brought together so as to make comparisons 
easier. 
TaBLeE VII.—Summary of numa percentages of moisture in sorghum, timothy, and 
alfalfa at different stages of growth. 
Moisture. 
Place, crop, and stage of growth. 
Original Air-dry Lost in air 
material. material. drying. 
Amarillo, Tex., Red Amber sorghum: Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 
VICES YOUNG: 2 Saas jan ceeccin chee eee ek one eee eeeoer 90.640.1384] 15.9+1.169 88. 9+0. 063 
Shooting for h eads* sina aes Noe enema 87.14 .146| 26.54 .725 82.54 .347 
iBerinning, to head's=ss- esos seen cae eee eee ee ..-| 84.84 .124] 25.94 .670 79.5% .232 
UIE DOOM wine Bee sec Ce ae ee ae eee 80.4+ .204] 22.64 .652 74.74 .111 
12 OY STi OER EERE Se a ae ee Pao LR ae! SS Ok aa ae 75.34 .157| 24.14 .612 67.44 .199 
Hays, Kans., Red Amber sorghum: 
Very young . Sieleaiewiniels seo me rEE cis ae Nation = See eee mrsinert 89.24 .344] 15.44 .349 87.0-+ .270 
OOM S as Se laen a aisinis awe os ooie nal = eee eee Saree 84.54 .185| 15.34 .572 81.64 .192 
Softidougneecrs. sos oc chiens Scere oe bee es ee eee 81.1+ .484] 15.54 .302 77.64 .593 
HMardidoughis 2 oe eee ke SS. 5. A ee ee 77.34 .746] 16.14 .326 72.64 .823 
TRU shee eas aioe wrerseysiee ote wis nse is Sa ae Re Res Sree oar 73.2+ .795} 16.14 .549 68.0+1. 033 
New pondoU, Ohio, timothy: ! 
Maye 202 Bee dais closten bal wiae Seite OS 2. ot ee epee stemieneie me ee 9.6 75.0 
Very ee PAIN CHES hi Sh VUNO Geen 2 5 Hee eee 76.64 .034 8.4+ .620 74.3+ .14 
Barlysploom:; June) 20 sere ae tee cto eee eee aoe ee 71.4+ .095 8.24 .525 68.8+ .076 
Mull bloom une; 26s .ce =o ee sone ts ee eee eee 67.2+ .406 8.9+ .095 63.9+ .337 
Leaves drying, a DUA Ae sOO ciate ARENA hs GABE SRT 58.6+ .334} 10.54 .165 53.74 .406 
Seedsmature, Sully 20m eer ee oe care ors hoes eee een cee 51.2+ .000 9.24 .311 46.24 .191 
Chico, Cal., alfalfa: 
Plants 12 inches lott DS OSS ha a i Ree SO eau see 78.94 .412} 12.54 .314 75.84 .395 
First bloom to one-tenth in bloom.....................--- 77.14 .393} 11.74 .689 74.14 .289 
ull blooms 3235). Bae eee aos dine inan eek Reece aces 74.64 .060] 11.24 .124 71.54 .045 
Pastifull bloom s..\. ce steeteesiees os ookce sen eee cio aces 73.4+ .188] 11.44 .181 70.0+ .188 
1 Only 1 sample taken on May 20; on other dates 2 samples were taken. 
