GROWING CULTIVATED CROPS IN DRY AREAS 285 



average of, say, about 8 tons. This would mean an aver- 

 age of about 2 tons in the cured form. Of course un- 

 der irrigation in the warmer valleys, enormous crops 

 may be grown. 



GROWING SORGHUMS 



The sorghums may be classified as sweet and non- 

 sweet, that is as saccharine and non-saccharine. The 

 saccharine sorghums include several varieties. The 

 distinction between these relates more especially to 

 growth characteristics and more particularly to such of 

 these as relate to maturity. The saccharine sorghums are 

 of the same class, but the non-saccharine are of sev- 

 eral classes. The more important of these for the semi- 

 arid country are Milo maize of the class known as Dhu- 

 oras, or, as sometimes written, Durras, and Kafir corn. 

 These are of several varieties. The sweet sorghums 

 are of tall growth, and usually sustain a dark colored 

 panicle somewhat spreading in character. The sweet 

 character of the fodder makes it much relished by live 

 stock. 



Milo maize is forging to the front as one of the 

 most valuable food plants southward in the semi-arid 

 region, hence it is worthy of more than a passing notice. 

 This plant, at one time very tall, is now so dwarfed 

 that the standard sorts average about 4^ feet in height, 

 and the dwarf sorts about 3^ feet. The advantage from 

 such modification in the handling of the crop will be 

 readily apparent. The heads of Milo maize are relatively 

 large and compact. When the stand is thin, the heads be- 

 come so large that they turn down by their own weight, 

 otherwise they stand erect. The stalks are stout and 

 short jointed. The roots fill the soil near the surface. 

 When moisture is lacking, as in the case of sorghum, the 

 plants stop growing until rains come again. The Durras 

 are valuable as both fodder and grain plants, but for the 



