THE CEREALS. 85 



The grain contains '85 per cent, phosphoric acid and '21 per 

 cent, potash. 



Joar is one of the most important rainy-season crops of India, 

 forming with rice and wheat the chief staple foods of the country, 

 especially in the Upper Provinces and Bengal. It is more 

 palatable but less wholesome than maize. The meal is made 

 with cakes, or the grains are parched and eaten with salt, or 

 made into a paste and mixed with chillies, gur, etc. 



BROOM CORN. 

 Sorghum saccharatum, Moench. 



Synonyms Holcus saccharatus (L.) ; Andropogon saccharatus (Roxb.). 

 Hind. Deodhan. Deccan Shalii. 



This annual grass is cultivated in some parts of Northern 

 India, either as fodder or on account of the sugar which can be 

 extracted from the stems ; the grain, however, is sometimes 



used as food. 



COMPOSITION OF BROOM CORN. 



In 100 parts. In I Ib. 



Water ... ... ... 12 '8 ... 2 oz. 21 grs. 



Albuminoids ... ... ir8 ... i 388 



Starch ... ... ... 68'3 ... 10 406 ,, 



Oil ... 3-0 ... o 210 



Fibre 3-0 ... o 210 



Ash ... ... ri ... o ,, 77 



The nutrient-ratio is here i : 6-4, and the nutrient- value 87. 



The stems of this grass contain a good deal of sugar. When 

 young and very immature invert-sugar is present in largest 

 proportion, as they become more mature it diminishes, until 

 when the grain is ripe three-fourths of the saccharine matter is 

 cane-sugar. The total sugar varies from 6 to 18 per cent, the 

 water from 80 to 66 ; 12 per cent, of cane-sugar is a fair average. 



This amount is liable to serious reduction if the sugar be 

 not extracted directly the stems are cut. Some rich canes 

 were found after three weeks to contain no less than 147 per 

 cent, of invert-sugar and only 3-6 of cane-sugar. Mechanical 

 injuries to the stems or the slightest touch of frost previous to 



