On the Composition of Sorghum Saccharatum. 9 



holcus is attempted in cold, exposed, or late-growing situations ; and, in this 

 case, of course the operation of transplantation should be done in wet weather, 

 the saving of seed, and the ensuring of a well-regulated equidistant plant, 

 being taken as no bad equivalent for the extra labcur and expense. In this 

 case the crop was hoed, but this is a delicate operation with the sorghum, as it 

 sends out adventitious roots from the joint immediately above the ground, 

 which dip into the soil, and, if not interfered with, aid immensely in forward- 

 ing the growth and developmemt of the plant. Hoeing, then, before this 

 process commences encourages it, but by no means can it be properly done 

 when this is in progress. When, however, the new roots are fully established, 

 a careful stirring of the ground between the rows (not between the individual 

 plants) appears very much to facilitate a larger and, what is more important, a 

 quicker growth." 



Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, 

 Dec. 1859. 



The foregoing article by Dr. Voelcker contains some curious 

 and instructive facts. That the specimens of sorghum examined 

 by him should have contained no sugar at the end of August, 

 and up to that time should have been unpalatable to horses and 

 cattle, are circumstances which not only have an important 

 bearing on the probable value of the sorghum as a fodder plant 

 in this climate, but they show what great changes may take 

 place in a growing plant without any external difference being 

 perceptible. This clue if properly followed up is very likely to 

 lead to the right explanation of many apparent contradictions in 

 the experience of practical men as to the value of any par- 

 ticular root or plant as food for stock, and it appears to me 

 highly desirable that an extensive series of observations should 

 be made on the changes which take place from time to time in 

 the constituents of our root and fodder crops during their whole 

 period of growth, but especially at the time of their approach 

 towards maturity. The inquiry whether any material alteration 

 takes place either for better or worse in the juices or tissues of a 

 swede or a mangold at the fall of the leaf, or shortly before or 

 after that time, or whether our natural or artificial grasses vary 

 much in their composition and consequent value during the 

 successive months of spring and summer, involves questions of 

 first-rate interest to the farmer, and might materially assist him 

 in fixing the time for mowing his meadows or storing his roots. 

 I may perhaps be considered over sanguine for seeking to connect 

 with such an investigation questions of a still more extensive 

 character, but it certainly appears to me probable that a suffici- 

 ently extended scientific inquiry of the kind above named would 

 throw considerable light on the whole question of manures, and 

 their effect on the composition as well as the growth of plants. 

 But whether these ultimate results be realised or not, the direct 



