The discrepancy between laboratory and field germination of sorghum seed frequently ranges from 30 tO 50% even when seed of high viability is used. When questionable seed is planted the field germination is very uncertain. Seed of some sorghum varieties show inherently better ability to germinate under unfavorable planting conditions than seed from other varieties. This difference seems to be due in part to the relative thickness of a starchy layer of cells located in the seedcoat. The number of kernels in a pound of sorghum seed varies approximately from 12,000 to 35,000, depending on the variety and somewhat on the plumpness of the seed, Because of this spread in seed size planting adjustments must be made to secure proper stands.

1. Grain sorghum is attacked by several species of stem borers, such as Pyrausta nubilalis, Diatraea, etc. 2. Data were obtained from the study of infestation in 1,073 strains and varieties in 1933, indicating that the extent of infestation by stem borers varied with varieties, 3. Further data obtained in 1934 under both field and controlled conditions gave further indication of differences in varietal infestation. 4. Under controlled conditions sorgos as a group were more susceptible to the insect than the nonsaccharine varieties. 5. Host selection of the "laying" moths is a possible cause for the varying degrees of infestation in different varieties of sorghum. 6. The degree of infestation by borers is probably a heritable character as the correlation between 1933 and 1934 infestation was significantly high. 7. Studied by means of X2 for independence, borer infestation was found to be consistently associated with color of grains and height of plants. 8. White grain varieties showed less infestation by borers than varieties with other grain colors. The reason for this relation is unknown.

The base exchange capacity and the nitrogen, carbon, and lignin contents of oat straw, wheat straw, sudan grass, cane sorghum, in cornstalks, millet, hemp, soybeans, alfalfa, sweet clover, and red clover were determined on the mature plant materials before composting and after 210 days, of decomposition. The results obtained may be summarized as follows: 1. Mature plant materials differ greatly in their base exchange capacity. 2. The base exchange capacity of 12 plant materials was significantly correlated with their lignin contents, and highly significantly correlated with their nitrogen contents. 3. No correlation was found between the base exchange capacities and either the carbon contents, acid-hydrolyzable fractions, or alcohol-benzene-soluble materials of the plants. 4. As the plant materials decomposed they increased in base exchange capacity many times more than they decreased in weight or in lignin content. 5. The base exchange capacity of the materials was not found to be in the same relation to one another as they decomposed. 6. The lignin content of the plant materials disappeared at the rate of from 24.71% in 210 days with one sample of cane sorghum to 54.80% in 210 days with one sample of soybeans.

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of decomposing wheat straw, oat straw, sudan grass, cane sorghum, flax, cornstalks, millet, hemp, soybeans, sweet clover, red clover, and alfalfa on the accumulation of nitrates in the soil, the base exchange capacity of the soil, and the carbon and humus contents of the soil. The results obtained showed that the accumulation of nitrates in the soil was significantly correlated with the nitrogen content of the material added.

The total number of leaves on the main stalk, including those formed during the seedling stage, averaged 16 to 27 leaves per stalk, in 21 sorghum varieties. There was a range of 5 to 10 leaves in the number on individual stalks within a variety, even when grown from selfed seed. Both season and date of planting influenced the number of leaves of a given variety. The number of leaves and length of vegetative period were highly correlated; a correlation coefficient of 0.853 +/- 0.029 having been obtained. The period between emergence and heading averaged 2.8 to 3.5 days per leaf for different varieties. The number of leaves, or nodes, also is closely related to size of leaf, forage yield, diameter of stem, vigor, and height of stalk. Early maturing sorghums have few leaves and consequently are limited in production.

A disease known as the root, crown, and shoot rot of milo is described and reported as occurring in Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and possibly California and Oklahoma. The disease cannot be controlled by any of the ordinary methods of cultivation or rotation or by changing the time of planting the crop. Studies on varietal susceptibility in the milo disease nursery at Garden City, Kan., have proved that milo and most milo derivatives are very susceptible. Darso is also highly susceptible. Kafirs, feteritas, and most sorgos are highly resistant to the disease. The sorghum varieties, selections, and crosses on infested soil at Garden City are listed and described as highly susceptible, resistant, immune, or segregating, as the case may be. The disease can be controlled by the use of resistant varieties or resistant strains of susceptible varieties. Resistant strains of Dwarf Yellow milo, Wheatland, and Beaver have been selected and seed may be available in the near future for distribution to farmers.