GUINEA CORN 151 



The extension of irrigated crops can only be made in 

 the vicinity of the larger rivers, or where good wells exist, 

 and it may be found more expedient, therefore, that the 

 inhabitants of the Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Gongola, and 

 Gurara valleys should be urged to cultivate rice and 

 maize under these conditions. The use of the land for 

 two crops in each year would be made possible by the 

 introduction of a leguminous crop as an intermediate, 

 being sown later but in the same field with the irrigated 

 crop, and being permitted to ripen, after the grain has 

 been harvested, upon the stubble. A leguminous grain 

 suitable for human food would be necessary in the river 

 valleys where cattle are scarce, but a cattle food could be 

 grown in the north where cattle are common, and where 

 milk forms an important article of human consumption. 



GUINEA CORN (Sorghum vulgare)" Dawa " (Haussa), 

 otherwise known as the Great or Indian Millet " Juar " 

 (Hindustani), " Dhura " (Egyptian) forms the most im- 

 portant food-grain of the inhabitants of the ultra-forest 

 region of West Africa. 



A large number of different varieties are recognised in 

 Northern Nigeria, and are distinguished in the manner 

 stated below. Most of these have a grain which is 

 commonly used for human food, but at least two varieties 

 are grown for other purposes. 



The following list states the characters by which the 

 various kinds can be determined from the appearance 

 of the seed and form of the stem. 



1. " Asidinono." Seed with white shell and black 

 adherent envelope. 



2. " Farafara." Seed with white shell and red ad- 

 herent envelope. 



3. " Boganderi." Seed with straw-coloured shell and 

 red adherent envelope. 



4. " Janari." Seed with pink shell and red adherent 

 envelope. 



5. " Kaura-ferin-sosia." Seed with straw-coloured 

 shell and straw-coloured adherent envelope. 



6. " Bokin-sosia." Seed with straw-coloured shell and 

 black adherent envelope. 



7. " Makafo-dewayo." Seed with straw-coloured shell 

 and pointed straw-coloured adherent envelope, which 

 scarcely opens. 



