384 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



539. The Grain. — The grain varies from other cereals tn 

 being more or less round. The color of the grains is variable, 

 white and red being the more common colors. The color resides 

 in the seed coats. The size and shape of the grain vary largely 

 with the type and variety. The grain of Kafir varieties is larger 

 and rounder than sweet sorghum or broom corn varieties. 



540. Composition. — Compared with the grain of maize, sor- 

 ghum seed contains a somewhat smaller percentage of protein 

 and about one-half the percentage of fat. Otherwise they are 

 quite similar in composition. Sorghum fodder is distinctly 

 lower in protein and higher in crude fiber than maize fodder. 

 All varieties of sorghum contain some sugar, varying from two 

 to twenty per cent of the juice, or from 1.2 to twelve per cent of 

 the cane. Those varieties which contain sufficient sugar, say 

 ten per cent, in juice, for the practical manufacture of sirup or 

 sugar are called saccharine or sweet varieties, while other varie- 

 ties are known as nonsaccharine varieties. 



541. Varieties. — Large number of varieties of sweet sorghum 

 have been tested in this country, particularly with reference to 

 their value for the production of sirup and sugar. Among these 

 varieties are two rather well marked types: the amber canes 

 and the orange canes, the former of these being rather more 

 early maturing than the latter. These are also recognized as 

 desirable varieties for forage purposes. Early amber, extra 

 early ; Folger's, early ; Colman, medium ; and Collier, late, are 

 recommended for this purpose as well as for the manufacture 

 of sirup. Among the varieties grown for seed the principal 

 ones are known as Kafir corn, of which three varieties are rec- 

 ognized : red Kafir, white Kafir and black hulled white Kafir 

 (synonym African millet). In the red Kafir the seed is red 

 or light brown, while in the white Kafir the seed is white. The 

 hulls are gray or greenish white, while in the black hulled white 

 Kafir the hulls are gray, brown or black. In both the white 

 varieties the hulls are hairy and larger than in the red variety, 



