76 SORGHUM. 



by the above numbers, are ouly varieties of sorghum, a family of 

 plants quite distinct from the true sugar-cane. 



Varieties of Sorghum received from Africa, China, and India. 



In 1881, the author received through President Augell, Minister to 

 China, six varieties of sorghum seed, the names of which were as 

 follows : 



Hwong-raao-nien-liang — Yellow-cap-glutiuous-millet. 



San-sui-hoong-liang — Separated-headstalks-red-millet. 



San-sui-pai-liang — Separated-headstalks- white-millet. 



Er-chiu-hung-liang — Second-autumn-red-millet. 



Ma-wei-nien-liaug — Horse- tail-glutinous- millet. 



Ta-min-huug-liang — Large-people's-red-millet. 



Also, through W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., Assistant Director of the 

 Royal Gardens, Kew, England, thirteen varieties of sorghum seed 

 from the Botanical Gardens at Natal, South Africa, and from the 

 Gordon INIemorial Mission of Natal ; also, through Mr. Dyer, two va- 

 rieties from Cawnpoor, India. 



The names of these were as follows : 



From Natal. 

 Undeudebule. Umgatubanda. 



Ukubane. Ubehlana. 



Jyangentombi. Ufatane. 



lyenga. Unkunjaua. 



Ibohla. Hlogonde. 



Dindemuka. Unhlokonde. 



Uboyana. 



From India. 

 Black Sorgho. Red Sorgho. 



Upon planting these, it was found that very many more varieties 

 could be distinguished than had been recognized by those sending the 

 seed ; and it. was found that there were at least 14 instead of 6 of the 

 Chinese, 26 instead of 13 of the African, and 3 instead of 2 of the In- 

 dian. This appears the more remarkable, since, in a letter from the 

 Assistant Secretary for Native Affairs, J, Shepstone, Esq., of Natal, he 

 says: "The natives that I have spoken to only know of six varieties 

 ofthe'Imfe.'" 



Besides these specimens of seed, the author received from Wm. 

 Kelt, Esq., Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Natal, ripened 

 panicles of the several varieties mentioned below, for the greater fa- 

 cility of identification : 



