112 



VARIETIES GROWN AT THE STERLING EXPERIMENT STATION. 



There were about U50 different plots of sorghum grown at this station ; 

 of these 150 were crosses, selected by Mr. Deuton ; the remaining 100 

 plots were planted with varieties presumably distinct, though more 

 than one plot was planted of a few standard varieties from seed obtained 

 from different localities. Of those supposed to be distinct varieties, how- 

 ever, though, sent in under different names, many were found to be dupli- 

 cates, showing minor variation perhaps, but not sufficient to entitle 

 them to classification as distinct varieties. 



For instance, seeds of the well-known variety Red Libeiian were 

 received bearing the names ''African," " Sumac," "Clubhead," "Rio 

 Blanco," etc.; samples of Honduras seed were named " Honey cane," 

 " Broom cane," "Silver top;" samples of Chinese cane seed were re- 

 ceived as "New sugar-cane," and "Sorghum saccharatum." It will be 

 seen in the following analyses that seeds of the same varieties received 

 from different localities produced canes of quite different qualities. 



Thirty-six of the varieties proved to be non-saccharine, useful for forage 

 purposes, but not containing enough saccharine matter to be of value as 

 sugar-producing plants.* 



In addition to most of the varieties grown in the United States the 

 list includes many obtained from Asia, Africa, and South America. 

 The seeds of many foreign varieties were injured by dampness and by 

 insects ; of some of these not a single seed germinated. 



The experimental lots varied in size, some containing a few acres of 

 each variety and some containing 150 hills of cane, and of some varie- 

 ties but a few canes were grown. In the experimental grounds of the 

 Jamaica Botanical Gardens, where sixty to seventy varieties of sugar- 

 cane are grown, each variety occupies from one half to one-third of an 

 acre. This seems to be the proper size for experimental lots, as it 

 allows selections of seed to be made from the best canes of each variety. 

 Moreover, foreign seeds often germinate poorly, and when small plots 

 are planted there is often not a single cane of some varieties produced, 

 as was the case here. 



COMPARISON OF THE VARIETIES BY ANALYSIS. 



Jt is not an easy matter, as might seem to be the case at first sight, 

 to make a comparison of different varieties by the analysis of juices 

 from selei-ted samples. In the first place, to make a fair comparison 

 between varieties they should be taken at their maximum of maturity, 

 and this is a point which can not be determined by any outward sign, 

 but only by actual analysis. Then the difficulties of sampling can only 

 be properly appreciated by one who is familiar with them. Add to these 

 the difficulties of comparison, the obstacles in the way of always getting 

 uniform conditions in the growth of the plots themselves, attacks of 



* Of the non-saccharine varieties, 20 were derived from China, 8 from Africa, 3 from 

 India, and 5 from this country ; the seed from all those \vero carefully preserved, nun 

 will be distributed by the Department. Many will doubtless prove new and valuable 

 acquisitions as forage plants, 



