SORGHUM EXPERIMENTS OX THE GREAT PLAIN.-. M 
Germination of seed in the field depends to a great extent on soil 
conditions; therefore the results for the individual years if studied 
in connection with the indicated soil condition at seeding time are 
mure reliable than the averages. The first four months of 1914 
were exceedingly dry. no effective rains being received until May 1. 
A rain of 0.6 inch on April 6 and 7 probably accounted for what 
germination was obtained from the April seedings. The temperatures 
in 1914 during the period of the test were more favorable than in 1915. 
Considering all the varieties, better germination was obtained from 
the April 15 and June 1 seedings than from any other. Even on 
these dates the field germination was only 50 to 60 per cent of that 
obtained in the laboratory, and on the less favorable dates as low 
as 12 per cent. 
In the spring of 1915 the climatic conditions were very different 
from those in 1914. Rains began early in April and were abundant 
until June 6. The latter part of June was very dry. but effective 
rains began again on July 12. Although soil conditions were for 
the most part favorable to germination in 1915. the temperatures 
were unfavorable. April and the first part of May were cold, 
and this no doubt lowered the germination percentage obtained in 
the field. 
A large part of the sorghum acreage is seeded between April 15 and 
June 1. The average percentages of the field germinations for the 
four seedings during this period were as follows : Blackhull kafir. 45.7 : 
Dwarf milo, 44.7: feterita. 34.7: Black Amber sorgo. 52.8; and 
Sumac sorgo, 50.7. Stated in percentages of laboratory germination, 
the averages are: Blackhull kafir, 46.3; Dwarf milo. 46.3: feterita, 
38.6: Black Amber sorgo. ooAr. and Sumac sorgo. 51.7. Although 
conditions were on the whole rather better than normal in 1915. 
the best field germinations were only 75 per cent of the laboratory 
germination. On the average, it would seem best to expect in field 
seedings about half the germination obtained in laboratory tests. 
RELATION' OF QUANTITY OF SEED SOWN TO ROW SPACE OBTAINED. 
The work at Amarillo in 1914 and 1915 indicated that it is best 
to expect in field seedings of kafir, milo, and sorgo not more than 50 
per cent of the laboratory germination and of feterita not over 40 
Eer cent. The approximate number of seeds in a pound of Dwarf 
afir is 24,000, Orange sorgo. 23,500, and Sumac sorgo. 37,500. 
With these facts, it is possible to calculate a theoretical stand, but 
such a calculated stand, even with the field germination reckoned 
at half the laboratory germination, is thicker than that obtained in 
actual field work, as may be seen in Table 25. 
The experiment to determine what adjustment of the planter is 
necessary to deliver 1. 2, 3. or 4 pounds of seed into the soil and what 
stand mil ordinarily result from these differing quantities of seed 
was begun at Chillicothe. Tex., in 1919. That year the work was 
largely preliminary, and the experiment in its final form did not 
start until 1920. Rows 20 rods long each of Dwarf kafir and Sumac 
and Orange sorgo were seeded on two dates. The adjustment of the 
planter did not result in sowing the quantities of seed desired except 
of Sumac sorgo. The actual quantity sown in each case is. however. 
90483— 24f 6 
