72 REPORT OF THE First ASSISTANT OF THE 
seed, five of which came from China and twenty-two from India, 
were from varieties new to the United States. 
Twofsamples of millet seed came from China and one from 
Sierra Leone. There were six varieties of sorghum which were 
introduced into this country from China five years ago. 
There were several varieties which came from Natal five years 
ago. The rest were nearly all varieties introduced into the 
United States by Wray in 1857. One variety (No. 157) was 
received from the Department of Agriculture. 
The soil where the sorghums were grown was a rich clay loam. | 
No fertilizer was used. The soil favored a large growth, but 
slow maturity. The season was cool; the sorghum (and corn) 
ripening about two weeks later than usual. The observations | 
taken on the crop are condensed in the the following table. The 
date of the ripening of the seed is very frequently questionable, 
as the sparrows destroyed the seed before it was mature. Neither 
could any observations be made in regard to yield and quality of 
seed. , 
The seed was all planted on May 24. The plants were killed 
by frost October 11. The frosts which occurred before this date 
were only severe enough to kill the top leaves of the immature 
canes. 
Those samples, the names of which are inclosed by bracket, if 
not absolutely identical, are so near alike that for all practical 
purposes they may be considered the same variety. 
= SS 
Ss Ramos 
Le a 
Pe ae 
mS 
