1690 



SORGHUM 



SOUTH CAROLINA 



derived from the wild species, S. Halepense {Andropb- 

 gon Halepensis). Others maintain these cultivated 

 forms as varieties of a distinct species, Sorghum vul- 

 gare (Andropogon Sorghum) . The cultivated forms are 

 annuals, with tall jointed stems, bearing large terminal 

 panicles. They fall naturally into three groups, depend- 

 ing upon their uses: (1) Broom Corn, in which the 

 branches of the panicle are elongated and are thus 

 adapted to the manufacture of brooms; (2) the Sugar 

 or Saccharine Sorghums, with loose panicles, the 

 branches drooping, and red-brown spikelets, cultivated 

 for the sweet juice and for forage. Amber and Orange 

 are leading forms of Sorghum. See Saccharum. (3) 

 The remaining varieties are grouped together as Non- 

 Saccharine Sorghums. They are grown for forage 

 and for the seed. Gn. 4, p. 83 (S. hicolor). The com- 

 mon forms grown in this country and oifered in the 

 trade are: Kaffir Corn, with stems 4-5 feet high, stocky 

 growth, and dense, upright panicles; Millo Maize, or 

 African Millet, similar but about twice as tall; Durra 

 { variously spelled Doura, Dhoura, etc. ) , including 

 Egyptian Rice Corn, Guinea Corn, etc., with compact 

 panicles on a recurved stalk. j^ g_ Hitchcock. 



2355. 

 South Carolina. 



To show horticultural 

 zones. 



SORBEL. Various species of Rumex (which see) 

 produce large, thick, acid leaves which are prized for 

 salads or for "greens." Leaves of some of the native 

 or naturalized species are gathered as pot-herbs in many 

 parts of the country. In the Old World, however, sev- 

 eral species are regularly cultivated in kitchen-gardens ; 

 in this country these cultivated species are relatively 

 little known. They are perennials of the very easiest 

 culture. Usually they persist for a number of years 

 after well established, giving an abundance of soft edi- 

 ble leaves early in the spring when herbage is scarce. 

 They are usually grown from seeds, and plants fit for 

 cutting may be had when the plants are one or two years 

 old. Plants should be placed at one side of the garden 

 where they will not interfere with the regular tillage. 

 No special treatment is demanded. When they begin to 

 show signs of failing, new plants should be started or 

 the old ones may be taken up and divided. The rows 

 should stand about 18 in. apart. Do not let the plants 

 exhaust themselves by seed-bearing. The Spinach Dock 

 {Mumex Patientia) is one of the best and earliest. The 

 Belleville (Rumex Acetosa) is also an excellent plant 

 for the home garden and has the advantage of following 

 the other as a succession. Various other species may be 

 had of European seed dealers. See Dock. l_ u_ b_ 



SOREEL-TREE. Oxydendrum. 



SORREL, WOOD. Oxalis Acetosella. 



SOUR GUM. See Ifyssa sylvatica. 



SOUR SOP. Anona muricata. 



SOUR WOOD. Oxydendrum. 



SOUTH CAROLINA, HORTICULTURE IN. Fig. 2355, 

 Owing to the combined influence of varieties of soil, 

 latitude and elevation, the climatic conditions of South 

 Carolina and the range of horticultural productions are 

 remarkably varied. With reference to its adaptation to 

 amateur and commercial horticulture, this state may be 

 divided into four belts by lines drawn roughly from 

 southwest to northeast. 



The coast region, embracing a tier of counties border- 

 ing the Atlantic ocean and a number of fertile islands, 

 is especially adapted to commercial horticulture. A con- 

 siderable area is devoted to growing early vegetables to 

 supply the large cities of the northeastern states. The 

 principal species grown for shipment are green peas, 

 Irish potatoes, cabbage, asparagus and beans. The 

 Hoffman and Neunan varieties of strawberries, which 

 are especially adapted to this region, are also grown 

 for shipment. The fig grows to perfection here, but has 

 not as yet been produced on a commercial scale. The 

 capabilities of this region have been only partially de- 

 veloped on account of the habit and profit of sea island 

 cotton and rice culture. The fungous disease known as 

 asparagus rust has seriously menaced the asparagus 

 plantations. 



The Pine Belt, or second zone, embraces two forma- 

 tions, popularly known as the Upper and Lower Pine 

 Belts. The latter covers an area of about 9,000 square 

 miles; the former 5,000. The Upper Belt embraces the 

 best farming and horticultural lands of the state. The 

 surface is generally level, with an elevation of 250 

 feet. Both of these belts contain large areas especially 

 adapted to vegetable- and fruit - growing, especially 

 melons. These industries are receiving more and more 

 attention every year as the land-owners become more 

 familiar with the intensive methods necessary for suc- 

 cessful truck-farming and the commercial requirements 

 for successfully handling large crops of perishable 

 products. Asparagus, earlj- potatoes, watermelons and 

 cantaloupes are at present the principal crops grown 

 for the northern markets. The sweet potato grows to 

 perfection in this region, 400 to GOO bushels per acre 

 being easily produced. Recent experiments by the 

 Agricultural Department of the Experiment Station in 

 preparing the sweet potato for compact shipment seem 

 to open the way for carrying this vegetable to all 

 parts of the world. This section is especially adapted 

 to the fig, the oriental types of pears and plums and to 

 the early varieties of peaches and apples. While af- 

 fording every facility for commercial horticulture, there 

 is, perhaps, no part of the globe where an abundant 

 siipply of fruits and vegetables may be more easily and 

 continuously provided for domestic use. Fresh vege- 

 tables in season may be gathered from the garden every 

 day in the year. 



The Hill Belt, fifty miles in width, stretching across 

 the state from Georgia to North Carolina, is more 

 varied in soil and elevation, affording a wide range of 

 soil products. In some sections of the Hill Belt rapid 

 strides have been made in peach- and melon-growing 

 for market. From a limited area around Ridge Springs 

 150 car-loads of peaches were shipped in 1900; from 

 this section also large shipments of melons and aspar- 

 agus are made. The rapid development of manufac- 

 tures has created a home market for large quantities 

 of fruit and vegetables. Grapes of superior quality 

 are grown throughout this belt. Standard Labrusca 

 grapes, such as Delaware, Concord and Niagara, are re- 

 markably exempt from diseases which are more destruc- 

 tive in other sections. The Rotundifolia family, or 

 southern fox grape type, most commonly known from 

 the amber-colored variety, Scuppernong, succeeds well 

 from the mountains to the coast. Other varieties of the 

 same family are more productive than the Scuppernong, 

 such as the Mish Memory, Tender Pulp, Thomas, 

 James and Flowers. The berries of some of these va- 

 rieties adhere to the stems and grow in bunches of 

 from 16 to 24 grapes, hence may be as readily shipped 

 as the Delaware. When trained upon vertical trellises 

 and pruned in early fall, the yield far exceeds that of 

 any other type. 



The Piedmont and Alpine regions, ranging in eleva- 

 tion from 400 to over 3,000 feet, varies even more than 

 the hill country in variety of products to which it is 



