INTRODUCTION OF SORGHUM IVTO THE UNITED STATES. 67 



mark, that they "form the remainder of fifteen varieties, each differing 

 slightly from the others in saccharine qualities, as well as appearance ; 

 but still easily distinguished from each other by any one who has 

 studied them." 



J. H. Smith, of Quiucy, 111., who, in 1862, reports the results of his 

 investigations upon sorghum, says : 



Of the Chinese cane,«we have known but one description, as before stated. 

 Wc have cuUivated six different kinds of the African canes. 



And he enumerates six of those names already given. 

 The following letter from j\Ir. Leonard Wray, is especially interesting 

 in connection with this discussion of the Imphees : 



Perak, via Pexaxg, September 7th, 1882. 

 To the Commissioner of Agriculture, 11 asliiiigion, TJ. S. 



Dear Sir: I am pleased, bej-ond measure, to find that the United States Gov- 

 ernment has <}t last awakened to the great value of the "imphee varieties," which 

 I introduced into your country ; and has taken the most certain course to verify, 

 by scientific tests, the truth of mj' printed statements respecting them, published 

 in English, and also in French, in 1854, copies of which I gave to Mr. D. J, 

 Browne, of the Patent Office, in Washington. 



You will find the contents of this, my pamphlet, in a little book by H. S. 

 Olcott, published by Moore, of Fulton street. New York, in 1857 ; and if you do me 

 the honor to read that, you will, I am sure, fairly acknowledge, that every state- 

 ment I therein made is strictly proved by the valuable results of the able mea 

 whom you selected to conduct j'our experiments. I must, however, mention that 

 the last chapter of my pamplet — viz, that on the manufacture of the imphee juice 

 into sugar — is omitted in Olcott's little book. 



It is most gratifj'ing to see the "thorough" manner in which your Department 

 has gone into, and decided these important question.^. 



I first became acquainted with these plants in March, 1851 (thirty and one- 

 half years ago), just after mj- arrival in Natal, South Africa; and, in 1854, I 

 grew them in several parts of France, in England, Spain, Italy, and in various 

 other places, so that I may claim to know their merits; and I now say, that all 

 I said and wrote about them at that time, I am fully prepared to stand by, and 

 substantiate the truth of 



In fact, j'our admirable Department has, in its recent scientific demonstra- 

 tions, abundantly and authoritatively confirmed my facts, and thereby rendered 

 an inestimable service to your country, and to other countries also. I hope and 

 trust you will continue it. 



Looking at the beautiful plates in j'our reports, I can not but express ray ad- 

 miration, and, at the same time, my astonishment, at the very remarkable con- 

 stancy of the "types" maintained by the different sorts of imphee shown. For 

 instance, I may mention Plate 1, facing page 8, in Special Report, 33. This is 

 there called " Imphee," '"Liberian" and "Sumac;" but I distinctly recognize 

 it as my " Koomba-na," one of the very sweetest and best I had. (I inclose 

 you some very old seed.) 



Plates 2, 3, and 4, are my Neeazana, and its sports. 



