12 THKEE MUCH-MISREPKESENTED SORGHUMS. 



The Chinese sorgo and the Early and Minnesota Ambers have shining 

 black glumes, which closely surround the reddish-brown seed and 

 often remain attached after thrashing. In such cases the spikelet is 

 often described instead of the seed. 



Nothing is known of the nutritive value of the seeds of this and 

 other sorghums in the preparation of household substitutes for coffee, 

 chocolate, etc. Some of the grain sorghums may be found to have 

 value as the basis of new cereal drinks comparable to those now 

 made from wheat preparations. Tannin is present in larger or smaller 

 quantities in the seed coats of all the brown and reddish-brown seeds. 

 There are, however, white-seeded varieties of kafir, kowliang, and 

 milo. 



SUMMARY. 



Attention has been recently called to a crop under the name of 

 "chocolate corn" by a widely copied newspaper paragraph. 



The statements regarding its high yields of grain, its use as a sub- 

 stitute for chocolate, and the possibility of securing seed from this 

 Department have caused a great deal of correspondence. 



The Department has no seed of any crop known as ''chocolate 

 corn" for distribution. The plant mentioned was a sorghum variety. 



Some variety of sorghum was cultivated in this country under the 

 name of ''chocolate corn" as early as about 1830 and, sparingly, for 

 some time thereafter. It was probably similar to Amber sorgo. 



The value of the seeds of the various sorghums in the preparation 

 of a beverage is not known. It may be possible to use them for this 

 purpose, as other grains are used in preparing cereal drinks. 



GOOSENECK SORGO ("TEXAS SEEDED RIBBON CANE"). 



There exists among farmers and seedsmen at the present time a 

 great deal of confusion concerning the plant known as Gooseneck 

 sorgo, and also passing under other names. The trouble has been 

 largely caused by the use of the name "Seeded Ribbon cane" for a 

 sorghum. A brief statement of facts gathered during the past five 

 years may serve to make the matter clear. 



In order to understand how the use of this name has caused trouble, 

 the following prehminary facts must be kept in mind: (1) The true 

 sugar cane (Saccliarum officinarum) is commonly known as "Ribbon 

 cane" in the Gulf States where it is grown. (2) It does not produce 

 seed in this country, and fields are always started by planting the 

 stalks, wliich is a comparatively laborious and expensive process. 

 (3) Sugar planters would eagerly welcome a true sugar cane which 

 could be grown from seed. (4) Sugar cane recpiires a subtropical 

 chmate, and therefore can not be grown very far from the Gulf States. 



[Cir. 50] 



