AND OTHEK FORAGE PLANTS.- 115 



ea corn, with densely contracted panicle, and cultivated for the 

 grain : 2. S. HALAPENSE, Cuba grass, cultivated for soiling, 

 grazing, and hay ; and, 3. S. SACGHARATUM, sweet sorghum, 

 Chinese and African sugar cane, cultivated for the juices of the 

 stems and the broom corn for brooms. The seeds of all the va- 

 rieties are valuable food. 



The S. vulgare, great or Indian millet, has been much culti- 

 vated from the earliest times in India and across to Southern 

 Europe and Africa and thence extending to all countries suffi- 

 ciently warm. It was and is yet used in many countries not 

 only as food for inferior animals, but also for man. It has; 

 been, at different times during the last sixty years, extensively 

 advertised for sale in various parts of the United States under 

 taking names and extravagant commendation, as chocolate corn, 

 doura corn, Indian millet, Chinese wheat, Oregon rice, ivory 

 wheat, upland or highland rice, pampas rice, etc. 



Quite a number of planters of Mississippi have cultivated it 

 during the current and a few preceding years. All -with whom 

 I have conversed speak very highly of its nutritive and fatten- 

 ing properties for hogs and other animals and of the large yield 

 of grain. They agree also that it makes a good, wholesome 

 flour, for bread, cakes etc., while all relish it as a substitute for 

 cracked wheat/ Some of our own family esteem it as very pal- 

 atable and desirable food. Of course poultry and other birds 

 devour it greedily. The only trouble I have experienced with 

 it is, if a small quantity only be grown, the birds devour so 

 much as it matures and before ready for harvesting. 



There are many varieties of S. vulgare, but for the table, that 

 with large open panicle and pearl like grains is preferable, 

 while it is as valuable as any other variety for animals in fact, 

 I prefer is for them. Bearded varieties are not so much dama- 

 ge ! by birds. After harvesting all are liable to be destroyed 

 by the weevil. 



It may be planted in April and cut several times during the 

 season. In common with other sorghums it bears drought much 

 better than corn, or any of our small grain. When it heads, 

 cut off the top, and immediately other heads shoot out^ from ev- 

 ery joint and many new stems from the root, all which may be 

 used as- needed. When thus cut it centinues to renew its growth 

 till frost, unless prevented by drought. In all warm countries 

 it is unanimously acknowledged to yield much more than any 

 other grain. 



S. cernuum seeds are used for the same purposes as those of 

 S. vulgare. The leaves of both are nutritious and are eaten by 

 stock. They frequently eat the entire stalk. 



The grains of the S. fjaccharatum may be used also for the 

 table but are not so nice as the two preceding. They are per- 

 haps equally valuable for stock feed. The whole plant has 



