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The World's Commercial Products 



main divisions, which may be stated as follows : Andropogon Sorghum var. vulgaris, yielding 

 the innumerable varieties of Kaffir Corn, dhurra, etc. ; A. Sorghum var. saccharatus, the sugar 

 sorghum, known in the West Indies as " Imphe," and used for fodder, also a source of sugar ; 

 and A. Sorghum var. technicus, the fruit-stalks of which, when the grain is removed, are used 

 for making brooms and brushes. A description of this latter plant and its uses will be 

 found in the section dealing with " Fibres." 



As stated above, Andropogon Sorghum var. vulgaris possesses a great number of varieties, 

 which are cultivated as a food crop in practically all the warmer countries of the world. They 

 may, however, be reduced to three principal forms, viz. : (1) Red Kaffir corn, a plant from 

 five to six feet high, bearing thick, somewhat rough, leaves, and a long, narrow, erect head of 

 light brown or red seeds so closely packed together as to hide the stems bearing them ; (2) 

 White Kaffir Corn, similar in habit to the last, but smaller, and bearing a slender compact head 



. — of whitish seeds; (3) African Millet, with a 



habit similar to that of the White variety, and 

 also with white seeds, which, however, are often 

 spotted, and the chaff of the seeds is grey or 

 black. Sorghum is very largely used for human 

 food in India, Africa, and China, and its im- 

 portance as a fodder for cattle in these countries 

 is very great. When employed as a fodder, 

 however, it has been repeatedly noticed that the 

 stock sometimes sicken and die as a result of 

 what is known as " sorghum poisoning," and 

 recent investigations carried out at the 

 Imperial Institute at South Kensington have 

 afforded an explanation of these observed 

 facts. It appears that while the plant is 

 comparatively young, the active poison prus- 

 sic acid is developed by the interaction of 

 two complex chemical bodies contained in 

 its tissues, and that when the sorghum be- 

 comes mature the poison is no longer formed. 

 The practical value of this observation is at once 

 evident, since by feeding only mature sorghum to stock it is possible to avoid all risk of 

 poisoning. 



IN THE LARGE FIELDS OF KANSAS 



KORAKAN OR RAGI 



In India and Japan and some other countries an important food-stuff is yielded 

 by Eleusine Coracana, a tall annual grass with tufted stems each bearing from four to six 

 spikes of flowers. A fact which adds greatly to the value of the plant is that it yields 

 an abundant crop even when grown on poor soil. Korakanis cultivated over the greater part 

 of India, largely during the rainy season, and is an important food of the poorer classes. It 

 is said to be peculiarly free from attacks by insects, and can therefore be stored a considerable 

 time without damage, a point of especial advantage in tropical countries. 



The grain is not generally considered to be very wholesome as it is somewhat difficult of 

 digestion, but it is extensively eaten, and in Mysore the flour is used for puddings or made 

 into cakes which are fried in oil ; in other parts of India a fermented liquor is prepared from 

 the grain. 



