12 BULLETIX 976, U. S. DEPAKTMEXT OF AGRICULTUKE. 
vegetative period is the time from seeding until the heads appear. 
The fruiting period is the time from the appearance of the heads 
until the kernels are ripe. The height of the plants is the average 
of several measurements made at different places in the plat. 
Harvesting is done \\-ith a corn binder, leaving a stubble about 
6 inches high. The bundles are shocked in the field and left from 
four to six weeks to cure before thrashing is done. They are then 
hauled to the scales and weighed. The heads usually are cut from 
the bundles before thrashing is done, but occasionally very dwarf 
varieties are thrashed without heading the bundles. Thrashing is 
done with a Keystone No. 1 separator. The thrashed grain is 
weighed as it comes from the thrasher and the acre yield computed 
therefrom. The yields are based on 60 pounds to the bushel for 
kafir and 58 pounds for all other varieties. 
ENVIRONING CONDITIONS. 
A brief summary of the environing conditions during the 6-year 
period from 1914 to 1919, inclusive, is given to aid in the interpreta- 
tion of the results obtained from these experiments. 
The season of 1914 was not favorable to high yields. The first 
three months of the year were without precipitation. April had a 
number of light showers, but none of them penetrated the soil to any 
depth. May was unusually wet and cold, which caused poor germina- 
tion in most plats of the early seedings. June was remarkably dry, 
and the light rains in July furnished only temporary relief to the crop. 
The rains in early August stimulated growth, and were followed by 
about an inch of rainfall in the first 12 days of September, which re- 
sulted in only fair yields. 
The season of 1915 was exceptionally favorable, resulting in the 
highest yields in the history of the Amarillo Cereal Field Station. 
The seasonal rainfall was suflB.cient and so distributed that the crop 
at no time suffered for moisture. 
Dry and unfavorable conditions obtained during the season of 1916. 
May was dry. A good rain fell on June 4, followed by a number of 
light showers during the remainder of the month. July had a few 
light showers, but the next rain of value did not come until August 20 
and 21. This was followed by dry, hot weather during the remainder 
of the month and the first 10 days of September. The light rains of 
September furnished only temporary relief, so that very low yields 
of all grain-sorghum crops resulted. 
During the season of 1917 enough moisture fell to grow good crops, 
but the distribution was poor. The moisture for April was less than 
half the normal, May was slightly below, and June was almost bone 
dry, only a few light showers falling. July was normal in rainfall, 
