M. VILMORIN’S RESEARCHES. 8317 
can scarcely tell to what it may lead; but after the results [ have ar- 
rived at in my experiments, made under most unfavorable circum- 
stances, I can but think that it has a profitable future. 
The cultivation of the sorgho will probabiy not be difficult, as it 
closely resembles that of maize and some millets. The obstacles to be 
encountered will probably arise in giving it its place in the rotation ; 
in this repect, there is, I think, more to lose than gain in its introduc- 
tion, while the beet has constantly increased the aggregate yield of the 
districts where it has been introduced. The sorgho, as well as maize, 
is thought to be an exhausting plant ; the experiments I have hitherto 
made, have been too few to allow my deciding on it from personal ob- 
servation, but I entirely coincide with the established opinion on the 
subject, and certainly the species to which this plant belongs, makes it 
improbable that it could fill the same place in a rotation as the beet. 
The value of produce that we may expect from the sorgho is diffi- 
cult to determine in this state of the question; my experiments have 
been made on quite a small scale. The following is the result furnished 
to me, and the deductions we may draw from it. The small plot of 
sorgho which I have cultivated open field at Verriéres, in a sandy soil 
of medium quality, was harvested 30th October. We gathered from 
it as often as we needed it for the different laboratory experiments, 
besides which one corner was much stunted by the shade of a large 
tree, and another spot was reserved for a comparison between topped 
plants and others on which we had left the tufts. The area cut the 
30th of October, was 58m40, the yield was (weighed the day after 
cutting), ; 
Stalks and leaves, - - - - 285k400 
Stalks, without leaves or heads, - - 179k250 
The lot was so irregular, and so badly covered, that I wished tc 
make another trial ; so in the part farthest removed from the trees I 
measured a square plot, where, although the plants were not very tall, 
they were of average growth and covered the ground well. The 
dimensions of the square were about 5m32, the yield (weighed the day 
after cutting) was, 
Stalks and leaves, - - - - 41k110 
Stalks, without leaves or heads, - - 26k230 
