CROPS 129 



long and broad leaves, and a spike-like " head," four to six 

 inches long. They grow to a height of three or four feet. 



Boer manna, or foxtail millet {Ghoetochloa italica), is also 

 useful as a forage crop. A sample of hay grown near Johan- 

 nesburg gave 1 he following figures on analysis ; 



Moisture 8 '3 



Ash 7-8 



Crude fibre 30'9 



Carbohydrates 46-2 



Protein 6-0 



Fat 1-8 



100-0 



Sorghum. — Belonging to this genus are several varieties 

 which bear a general resemblance to the millets. In America 

 both saccharine and non-saccharine sorghums are largely 

 grown for forage. The non-saccharine sorghums are most 

 important from our present standpoint, since they are largely 

 grown for seed. The most important are : 



Kaffir corn (Andropogon sorghum or /Sorghum vulgare), of 

 which there are several varieties. It is largely grown in South 

 Africa, the grain being used as food for horses, cattle, poultry, 

 and to some extent by the natives. It is also used in the 

 manufacture of Kaffir beer. 



Durra or Dhoura, Egyptian cmm, Egyptian rice-corn, Jeru- 

 salem cmmj Guinea corn, broom corn (so-called because the 

 panicles after the removal of the seed are used in the manu- 

 facture of brooms and clothes-brushes), and Jowarine are names 

 given in various hot countries to varieties of this crop. It haa 

 the advantage of growing and thriving in hot, arid districts. 



In reference to all plants of the millet and sorghum type, 

 an important point to notice is the occurrence of a glueoside, 

 capable of yielding by the action of water hydrocyanic acid 

 (prussic acid), especially in the immaijure plants. Q'his has 

 given rise to poisoning in animals fed upon second cuttings of 

 sorghum fodder. 



The amount of hydrocyanic acid is apparently greater in 



