jg Sorghum Saccharatum. [Jan., 



tin'' tills axiom to be true, what more economical, sure and feasible 

 mode can be adopted, to restore and maintain the fertility of the ex- 

 hausted lands of this country, than to extend the culture of this 

 plant, for the rearing and support of a large number of cattle or 

 other animals, and enriching these lands with their manure ? With- 

 out wishing to present the question in an extravagant light, it may 

 be stated that this crop is susceptible of being cultivated, within the 

 territory of the United States, to an extent equal to that of Indian 

 corn, say, twenty-five million acres per annum ; and estimating 

 the average yield of dry or cured fodder to the acre, at two tuns, the 

 yearly amount produced would be fifty million tuns, which to keep 

 within bounds, would be worth at least five hundred million dollars, 

 besides the profits derived from the animals, in milk, flesh, labor and 

 wool. In addition to this, it may be stated that it will resist the ef- 

 fects of considerable frost without injury, after the panicles appear, 

 and that those who wish to save the seeds for planting, should not 

 cultivate it in the vicinity of Dourah corn, Chocolate corn, nor 

 Broom corn, as it hybridises or mixes freely with those plants, which 

 would render the seeds of the product unfit for that use._ 



There has been considerable discussion in relation to the genuine 

 seed. To satisfy ourselves on this point, we have written to Mr. D. 

 J. Browne, at the head of the Agricultural Department of the Pat- 

 ent Office, as likewise to Mr. Peters, Atlanta, Georgia, whose letters 

 in reply we herewith publish for the benefit of our readers : 



'] 



United States Patent Office, 

 November 24th, 1856. 



Dear Sir : — 



With respect to the ' Sorgho Sucre,' or Chinese Sugar-Cane, I 

 would inform you that all seed distributed from this Office for the 

 last two years, was imported from Messrs. Vilmoriew, Andrieuth 

 & Co., of Paris, and proved true to its kind. We have on hand 

 some of the imported seed, also an abundance of seed cultivated in 

 the District, directly under my eye, free from any influence by a 

 mixture with other plants. This Office will take pleasure in fur- 

 nishing your Institution with a sufficient quantity of either, for trial, 

 with the history of the plant, and full directions for cultivation. 



Yours, respectfully, 



D. J. Browne. 



