7 J SORGHUM. 



Wray should be able, even from plates, whicli fail to repveseot many 

 of the marked peculiarities of the different varieties, to have at 

 once recognized almost every one as among those introduced by him. 



Perhaj^s nothing has been more generally believed, than that the 

 greatest care was necessary to avoid the liybridization of the different 

 sorghums. 



At least a score of so-called hybrids have been received from one sec- 

 tion and another of the coimtry ; and generally, along with the state- 

 ment as to the desirable qualities of this new variety, the information 

 is given that a little seed may be had at quite an advance over the price 

 of common varieties. 



It is reported, that, owing to the marked success which attended the 

 production of sugar from sorghum at Rio Grande (near Cape May), 

 New Jersey, the seed obtained was by certain thrifty farmers of that 

 vicinity, sold under the name of " Cape May Hybrid," although it was 

 no other than the common Early Amber variety. 



It is probable, that, in the hands of an expert hybridist, there may 

 be originated many new varieties, and possibly those surpassing in 

 excellence any now known; but, at present, the so-called "hybrids" 

 have not resulted in any such Avay, and, so far as they really exist, are 

 only accidental. 



During the past five years there have been cultivated in Washington, 

 in all, at least 100 varieties, and upon the same plat of ground. These 

 varieties w^ere grown in rows, separated from each other only three feet, 

 and, although it is possible that crosses have taken place, and remained 

 unobserved, it is certain th.at no evidence has been seen of such fact: 

 and this is the more remarkable, since, day by day, throughout the sea- 

 son, the different varieties were subject to careful observation. 



As has been said, those specimens of seed received from foreign 

 countries, have been found to contain generally several varieties under 

 one name, differing very widely among themselves, and giving evi- 

 dence of an admixture, in the samples received, of several distinct 

 varieties. 



No such result has ever been observed in the samples of seed received 

 from various sources in the United States — since generally ripened 

 panicles have been sent to the Department instead of the cleaned seed 

 — and in no case was it found that two distinct kinds of seed were 

 present upon the same panicle. This result is entirely at variance with 

 the universal experience in growing different varieties of maize in the 

 same vicinity ; and in this regard the two plants, which, in many 

 respects are similar, could hardly be more unlike. 



It would appear incredible, if this tendency to "cross "or "sport"' 



