8 On the Composition of Sorghum Saccharatum. 



produce. The differences in the relative proportion of nitrogen 

 in the grass analysed at the two periods appear particularly 

 striking, if the compositions of the dried substances are compared 

 with each other. It will then be found that there is nearly 1 per 

 cent, less nitrogen in the plants analysed in September than in 

 the grass analysed in August. 



We have here presented to us a fresh proof that the .nutritive 

 value of food of the same kind is not regulated by the amount of 

 nitrogen which it contains, but rather by the proportion of sugar. 

 Indeed, I think it may be safely asserted that all green food, and 

 likewise turnips and other roots, are immature, and more or less 

 unfit for feeding, when they are rich in nitrogen. Fully ripe 

 and very nutritious roots and grass always contain less nitrogen 

 than the same food in an immature state, or than food of indif- 

 ferent feeding qualities. 



A single year's trial of course does not entitle me to judge of 

 the agricultural merits of the sorghum saccharatum ; but I cannot 

 help thinking that the climate in most parts of England is 

 opposed to its growth in anything like full perfection. Last 

 season we had a fine and warm summer ; notwithstanding which, 

 neither the field crop nor an experimental plot in the botanical 

 garden came to full maturity. They scarcely reached 5 feet in 

 height, which is very much lower than the height which this 

 grass is reported to reach in America. I notice in a communi- 

 cation of Dr. Gossman of Philadelphia that in America the 

 sorghum reaches a height of 12 to 16 feet, and that it furnishes 

 70 to 75 per cent, of juice, from which Dr. Gossman obtained 6 

 to 7 per cent, of good crystallized sugar, besides a quantity of 

 molasses. It appears to me more than doubtful that the sor- 

 ghum will grow to this height in many parts of England ; nor 

 do I think the cultivation of sorghum in England will be remu- 

 nerative in furnishing the raw material for the manufacture of 

 sugar or the distillation of spirits. However, repeated trials are 

 needed before we can finally pronounce on the value of sorghum 

 for the manufacture of sugar, or on its merits as a feeding stuff. 



For the benefit of those who are inclined to give this new 

 grass a trial next season, I append the following remarks on its 

 culture by Professor Buckman, who says : 



" The seed was obtained from Messrs. Sutton, Reading, and sown in the 

 beginning of May. The distance apart was 20 inches ; depth (at which seed 

 was sown), not more than 3 inches. It came up soon, and for the first 

 month did not at all promise the fine aspect it afterwards showed ; but as soon 

 as the warm nights came it made rapid growth, and we were thus led to 

 infer that too early sowing is by no means a saving of time, though we are not 

 quite sure whether getting strong plants early, by germinating in a hothouse 

 or under glass with artificial heat, and gradually exposing them to harden 

 before transplanting, would not be advisable, especially where the growth of 



