270 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



The principal sorgos are Amber, Orange, Sumac, Goose- 

 neck, Honey and Planter; there are four important 

 varieties of kafir, two of milo and one durra (feterita) 

 commonly grown for forage. 



Amber. Amber was the first sorgo introduced into 

 America. It is said to have been developed in Indiana 

 from the Chinese sorgo brought to France in 1851 from 

 Tsungming Island, China. Amber sorgo has open, usually 

 pyramidal panicles with the lower branches drooping; 

 glumes black, slightly hairy, shiny, nearly inclosing the 

 elliptical reddish-yellow grains. It will mature in Ontario 

 and Minnesota. 



Red Amber. This variety was introduced in 1903 from 

 Australia, where it is called Early Orange. It differs 

 from amber in the glumes being dark red or reddish- 

 brown. It is not early enough to use north of Kansas 

 and Maryland. 



Orange. Orange sorgo was one of the forms introduced 

 from Natal in 1857. It has moderately compact heads, 5 

 to 8 inches long, oblong, cylindric or spreading at the top ; 

 glumes reddish to black, two-thirds as long as the reddish 

 yellow grains, which become paler when fully ripe. Usually 

 it is two weeks later than Amber and about one week 

 earlier than Sumac. 



Planter. This variety is much grown in Australia 

 under the name Planter's Friend and in America has been 

 called Sourless from the idea that the juice in the stems 

 would not ferment as quickly as that of other varieties. 

 Its origin and early history are obscure, but forms much 

 like it came from South Africa. It much resembles 

 Orange, but is less sweet and juicy. The heads vary in 

 compactness and may be spreading above ; glumes pale 

 brown, very acute, half inclosing the straw-colored grains. 



