SORGHUM. 31 



outward through all the hot season, thus furnishing 

 an abundance of succulent pasture at a time of 

 the year when it cannot so well be obtained from 

 any other source. 



There are two distinct classes of sorghum, 

 known as the saccharine and the non-saccharine, 

 respectively. This classification is based on the pres- 

 ence of sugar in considerable quantities in the 

 matured cane or on its almost entire absence. The first 

 of these only will be discussed in the present chapter. 

 Of the saccharine sorghums there are many varieties, 

 but for forage uses two of these are more extensively 

 grown than the others. These are the Early Amber 

 and the Early Orange. The former, with its sub- 

 variety, the Minnesota Early Amber, is grown in the 

 northern and northwestern states to the almost 

 entire exclusion of other varieties. And the latter, 

 with what is probably a sub-variety, the Kansas 

 Orange, is extensively grown in the south and south- 

 west. Folgers Early is also a favorite in growing 

 forage, but it also is grown in the southwest and 

 south. But in all-round adaptation, it is questionable 

 if any of the other varieties excels the Early Amber 

 and its sub-variety in the production of forage. The 

 Amber varieties are hardy, they furnish an abundance 

 of leaves, they have a high sugar content, and they 

 mature earlier than most other varieties. 



\Yhen sorghum first appears above the surface 

 of the ground, it is a tiny plant bearing a close resem- 

 blance to foxtail (Setaria glauca), or, as it is some- 

 times called, summer grass or pigeon grass. It grows 

 slowly at first, and is easily pulled out or injured by 

 treading when live stock graze upon it at too early a 

 period. But after it has reached the hight of several 



