SECRETARY'S REPORT. 89 



flower awnless ; the spikclcts are roughish, downy, awn bent. 

 Flowers in September. This grass is common on sterile soils, 

 rocky banks and hill-sides. Not cultivated. 



Purple Wood Grass, or Broom Grass, (^andropogon sco- 

 parius,') and the Indian Grass, or Wood Grass, (^andropog-on 

 nutans,') grow on sterile and dry, barren soils, and sandy plains, 

 and are common, though of no value for cultivation. They 

 flower from July to September. 



The Chinese Sugar Cane, (^sorghum saccharatum.) Generic 

 characteristics : Panicle open or spreading, spikelets two or 

 three, the lateral ones sterile, the middle or terminal one fertile, 

 glumes tough and hard, sometimes awnless, stamens three. 



Specific description : Stem from six to fifteen feet high, 

 according to the soil on which it gTOws, erect, smooth, leaves 

 linear, flexuous, gracefully curving down at the ends, resem- 

 bling Indian corn in its early growth, and broomcorn, to which 

 it is nearly allied, at maturity. Flowers in a panicle at the 

 top, at first green, changing through the shades of violet to 

 purple, when more advanced. See Fig. 85, taken from a 

 plant somewhat over seven feet in height. 



This plant has lately been introduced and used both for 

 forage and the manufacture of sugar and molasses or syrup. 

 In some instances it has been used for making vinegar, brandy 

 and other liquors. As it is a true grass, and is at present 

 exciting considerable interest throughout the country, it is 

 proper to notice it in this connection. 



The genus sorghum embraces over thirty species, most of 

 which originated jn Asia, where some of them have been culti- 

 vated time out of mind. Specimens of the sorghum sacchara- 

 tum were introduced into France by means of the seed, about 

 six or eight years ago, where they have been cultivated with 

 considerable success. So far as we know, this species is the 

 best and most valuable for cultivation for the various purposes 

 alluded to, and most of the seeds first used in this country were 

 obtained from France, through the efficient agency of the 

 Patent Office, at Washington, being first cultivated in the 

 spring of 1855. 



Any positive assertions with respect to the value of this 

 plant, would, perhaps, be premature, but I have had very good 



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