BEEEDIXG MILLET AND SOEGO FOE DEOUGHT ADAPTATION. 11 
Another advantage in growing this early strain is the profit to the 
farmer in producing his own seed. Sorgo seed costs from $2 to So 
per 100 pounds * when bought from seedsmen, and farmers are not 
likely to grow a large acreage unless they can produce their own seed. 
There is probably a further advantage in having locally acclimated 
seed. This has been shown to be true of other field crops, and it 
will no doubt be found to be the case with sorgo. 
COMPARATIVE YIELDS OF SELECTED STRAINS OF SORGO. 
The strains of sorgo developed from selected individual plants of 
the Minnesota Amber type of sorgo were tested during several sea- 
sons in regard to their comparative forage production and drought 
resistance at the Akron (Colo.) and Newell (S. Dak,) stations. The 
principal tests were made in plats by planting in rows 3^ feet apart, 
cultivating between the rows. Other tests were made by planting 
Dakota Amber sorgo in comparison with millet and Sudan grass in 
drilled plats. Red Amber sorgo (commercial seed), Sudan grass, 
and corn (Northwestern Dent) were included for comparison in some 
of the tests. The results are summarized in Table V. 
At Akron the larger types of sorgo, Minnesota Amber and Red 
Amber, have produced greater average yields of fodder than the early 
dwarf type, Dakota Amber. (See Table V.) In 1913 the varieties 
of sorgo were not weighed separately, on account of the very poor 
stand secured, due to drought at planting time. A half-acre plat of 
Dakota Amber which was grown for increase of seed yielded at the 
rate of 1,675 pounds per acre of air-dry forage. 
At Newell the advantage also, taking the average of all yields, has 
been somewhat in favor of the larger types. In 1913, on plats which 
had produced millet the preceding year and on which the moisture 
supply was consequently limited, Dakota Amber (2,150 pounds per 
acre) yielded more than Red Amber (1,500 pounds per acre), but less 
than the larger type of Minnesota Amber No. 341-2 (2,770 pounds 
per acre). In 1914 the mean yields of Dakota Amber and of Red 
Amber at Newell were the same, 3,400 and 3,420 pounds per acre, 
respectively, while Minnesota Amber No. 341-2 made nearly 20 per 
cent more, or 4,040 pounds. 
In spite of the larger yield of Minnesota Amber No. 341-2 there 
is reason to believe that Dakota Amber is the more valuable variety. 
It is early and will mature seed in any season, the stools are small 
and are easily eaten by stock, and the fodder is relatively more leafy 
than the larger type. Because of its smaller size Dakota Amber may 
be planted more thickly than the larger sorgos. This has not been 
done in the tests referred to, but it would probably increase the yield 
of this dwarf type to plant it thicker. 
i Three seed companies in the Northwest quoted Minnesota Amber sorgo seed in their catalogues for 
1914 at $3.50, $3.75, and S6 per 100 pounds, respectively. 
