SORGHUM SMUTS AND VARIETAL RESISTANCE 25 
From the results it is evident that one variety of kaoliang, Shan- 
tung Dwarf, is very resistant to covered kernel smut. Manchu 
kaoliang, on the other hand, is very susceptible. The other brown 
kaoliangs showed considerable evidence of resistance except at 
Brooklyn, where the percentage of infection was high. Barchet 
proved rather susceptible and Mukden only moderately resistant. 
As a group, the kaoliangs are not so susceptible as the kaflrs or sorgos. 
RESULTS WITH KAFIR 
The kafirs (3, 7) were first introduced into the United States from 
southeastern Africa in 1876. At that time two varieties, White 
kafir and Red kafir, were exhibited by the then Orange Free State 
at the Philadelphia exposition. These were grown in Georgia for 
several years and thence distributed to the southern Great Plains 
area. Recently a number of additional varieties have been intro- 
duced from southern Africa. 
The kaflrs are the latest of the grain sorghums commonly grown 
in the United States. Thev are distinguished from other groups 
by their stout, stocky, semijuicy stems with short internodes and 
overlapping leaf sheaths. Six varieties are grown, all commonly 
but the White. These are White, Blackhull, Dawn, Sunrise, Pink, 
and Red. White kafir was one of the earliest introductions. It is 
rather dwarf in stature and is the earliest of all the kafirs. The 
glumes and seeds are white. It has very largely passed out of 
cultivation, although it was grown extensively some years ago. Its 
chief value is its earliness. 
The exact origin of Blackhull kafir is not known. It may have 
been brought with the first introduction of kafirs from southeastern 
Africa. It has been grown more extensively than any other kafir, 
as it succeeds well in most of the Great Plains area. It is char- 
acterized by black glumes and white seeds. 
Sunrise and Dawn kafirs originated from a single head selected 
in the autumn of 1906 in a field of Blackhull kafir by A. H. Leidigh, 
then superintendent of the Amarillo Field Station. The seed of this 
head was sown the next season. From the resulting crop, selections 
were made by Ball (7), from two of which Sunrise and Dawn kafirs 
were developed. Both resemble Blackhull kafir, but mature earlier, 
while Dawn is dwarfed. While the exact parentage of the original 
head from which these varieties have been developed is not known, 
the earliness, variable stature, and scarcely exserted heads and 
smaller kernels of the progeny indicate hybridization with White kafir. 
Pink kafir, probably the result of a natural cross between White 
and Red, was found growing in Kansas about 1905. It also has been 
introduced direct from Africa (S. P. I. No. 19742), whence it was sent 
to Chillicothe, Tex., in 1908 and grown there. It is characterized 
by pink seeds and white glumes and is somewhat later than White, 
which it resembles in manner of growth. The heads are rather 
intermediate in length and shape between those of Red and Blackhull. 
Red kafir was introduced from Africa at the same time as White. 
The seeds are red and the glumes are dark red to black. While it 
was formerly grown to some extent, it has now been replaced largely 
by the Blackhull and other varieties which usually produce higher 
yields. 
106639°— 25f 4 
