260 FIELD CROPS 



seeds in a rather compact branching head or panicle. The 

 height of the stalk, the shape of the head, the size of the 

 seeds, and other characters are decidedly variable in the 

 different types and varieties. Dwarf forms which do not 

 grow more than 2 or 3 feet tall are known, while giant types 

 reaching more than 15 feet in height have been imported 

 from Africa. The heads vary from the close, compact form 

 of the durras to the wide spreading type of the broomcorns. 

 The pith in the stalks of the grain sorghums is dry or con- 

 tains little juice, while that of the forage or sweet sorghums 

 (sorgos) is filled with sweet juice. The long branching 

 panicle separates the broomcorns from the other types of 

 sorghum with shorter branches. The sweet sorghums are 

 discussed under the heading of forage crops (Sec. 427). As 

 the culture and requirements of broomcorn are quite similar 

 to those of the grain sorghums, that crop is considered 

 in this chapter. 



322. The Types of Grain Sorghums. The grain sorghums 

 usually grown in the United States are of two general types, 

 kafir (kafir corn) and milo (milo maize). Three other types, 

 known as durra, shallu, and kowliang, are occasionally 

 grown. The kafirs differ from the other grain sorghums in 

 that the pith is slightly juicy, the peduncles are always 

 erect, and the panicles cylindrical. The seeds are white, 

 pink, or red. The milos are less leafy than the kafirs, the 

 heads are ovate, and the peduncles are usually bent so that 

 the heads turn downward. The seeds are slightly flattened 

 and are usually yellowish-brown in color. The ordinary 

 type is the yellow milo. The durras are quite similar to the 

 milos, but the pith is always dry and the seeds are decidedly 

 flattened. The seed is white or reddish brown in color. 

 The kowliangs and shallu are recently introduced types and 

 are as yet of little importance. 



