116 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



been used by some over a wide extent of our country for long- 

 er or shorter periods since 1855, as feed for horses, Cattle and 

 hogs. Some praise and others condemn in strong terms. All 

 agree that the leaves stripped oil and dried like those of Indian 

 corn make a fodder superior to the latter. They require more 

 time to dry for obvious reasons. When the cane is ready to 

 cut for rolling, the leaves are stripped and managed as those of, 

 corn, and the tops or heads cared for properly. Thus, much 

 good forage is secured for the animals, and from fifty to two 

 hundred gallons of syrup per acre for the people. 



If the cutting is succeeded by rains, there will be a second 

 growth for forage. Taking off such heavy crops must propor- 

 tionately exhaust the land. Among the first as well as last to 

 plant and use the sweet sorghums for soiling and fodder, . I 

 have never, in a single instance, had any bad effect on or inju- 

 ry of an animal. Where evil has resulted ft must be from bad 

 management. For feeding stock, the plant may be cut several 

 times during the season ; and the stalks should be passed through 

 a stalk-cutter. 



The S. vulgar e sometimes has a very large open panicle with 

 long nodding branches ; and it varies from this form to a very 

 short-branched, densely compacted, rigid, erect, club shaped 

 panicle. 



S. cernuum, Guinea corn, Chicken corn, recently White 

 Egyptian corn. This has all the variety in form of panicles as 

 the preceding, differing in having the peduncle very long and 

 reflexed, turning the panicle so as to point directly down. 

 This is the perfect character ; but often it is bent further and 

 across itself; and then it varies in the other direction, so that 

 panicles may be found inclined at all angles with the horizon. 

 From my own study of these two so-called species, under con- 

 ditions miles apart, where they could not possibly intermix. I 

 am convinced that they are but one, with a natural tendency to 

 return to the erect form of open panicle. Both are to be plant- 

 ed and cultivated alike. Plant in rows three feet apart, drop- 

 ping a few seed from twelve to twenty inches apart, using about 

 four quarts clean, sound seed per acre, or drill thinly about a 

 bushel. About two workings with a good cultivator will suffice 

 if the ground be in good condition to begin with ; if not the 

 hoe may be needed and other work. 



S. saccharatum, Imphee or African sugar cane, (S. nigrum, 

 black or Chinese sugar cane being probably only a variety,) 

 may be planted and treated in all respects in the same manner 

 as a forage crop ; for which I prefer it very much to the varie- 

 ties of Doura. The broom corn belongs to S. sa,ccharatum, but 

 is worthless for forage, except the seed which are very nutritious. 

 For syrup and sugar the bent-top variety is, in my locality, 

 decidedly the best, being more easily clarified and granulated, 



