SORGHUMS. Ill 



Sorghum Types, based on Economic Uses. 



(1) Saccharine sorghums. 



(2) Non-saccharine sorghums. 



(3) Broom-corns. 



(4) Forage sorghums : — Sudan, Tunis, Johnson. 



(1) Saccharine Sorghums (Soet Ricts). — Those having an 

 abundant sweet juice. Previously cultivated for syrup, but now 

 principally as a forage plant and for silage. — I. Cane or Sorgo. 



(2) Non-Saccharine Sorghums. 



(a) Pith contains scanty juice, which varies from 

 slightly sweet in some varieties to semi-acid in others. 

 Grown principally for the grain, but has also forage 

 value.— II. Kafi&r. III. Milo. 



(b) Pith Dry. 



(i.) Grown principally for the grain and forage. 

 II. Kaffir. VI. Durra. "IV. ShaJlu. V. Kowliang. 

 VII. Feterita. 



(ii.) Grown for the panicle (brush) ; little value 

 as forage. — VII. Broom-corn. 



In South Africa, the principal varieties grown belong 

 almost entirely to the Kaffir type, namely : BlackhuU Kaffir 

 Com, WhitehuU Kaffir Corn (both these have white seeds), 

 and Ked Kaffir Corn. 



Varieties from all the other groups have been grown from 

 seed distributed by the Government, but have not been gener- 

 ally adopted. The local demand is chiefly for the natives on 

 the mines, who prefer the white-seeded varieties. 



Saccharine Sorghums. — These are usually low yielders of 

 grain, and are grown principally for forage or for silage. 

 They are generally tall, slender, leafy, with pyriform seeds. 

 Early Amber, Orange and Sumac, Planter's Friend, Sugar 

 Drip, are varieties which have been tried in the Union and 

 have given good results. 



Sudan Grass and Tunis Grass are also forage sorghums, 

 usually looked upon as grasses. 



Non-Saccharine Sorghums. — Comparatively heavy seed- 

 yielding, and stocky in growth. In the Kaffir Group the heads 

 are erect, long, and cylindrical obovate seeds. In the Durra 

 Group the inflorescence is thick, compact, ovate and pendant 

 large flattened seeds (Yellow Milo, Durra and Feterita). 



Broom-Corn Group. — The varieties in this group have 

 wide-spreading panicles. 



