614 [Assembly 



The sorgho sucre is a plant which, on ricli land, grows to s 

 height of from two to three or more yards. Its stems are straight 

 and smooth, having leaves somewhat fiexuous and falling overy 

 greatly resembling Indian corn in appearance, but is more ele- 

 gant in form. It is generally cultivated in hills containing (ii;ht 

 or ten stalks each, which bear at their tops a conical panicle of 

 dense flowers, green at first, but changing into violet shsc'es, and 

 finally into dark purple at maturity. In France, it is an annual, 

 where its cultivation and period of growth correspond with those 

 of Indian corn ; but from observations made by M. Vilmorin, it 

 is conjectured that, from the vigor and fullness of the lower part 

 of the stalks, in autumn, by protecting them during the winter, 

 they would produce new plants the following spiing. If culti- 

 vated in our southern states, it is probable that the roots would 

 send forth new shoots in spring, without protection, in the same 

 manner as its supposed congener, the Dourah corn. In the mid- 

 dle sections of the Union, two crops of forage might be taken from 

 the same roots in a season, say ihi first of August and early in 

 October. At the extreme north, the maturity of the seed proba- 

 bly would be more certain if pi nted in some sheltered situation ; 

 but if the object of cultivating for the extracting of sugar, or for 

 fodder for animals, an open culture would be sufficient where the 

 soil is rich, light, and somewhat warm. According to the ex- 

 periments of M. Ponsart, the seeds vegetate better when but 

 slightly covered with earth. M. Ledocte proposes to associate 

 with the plant another of more rapid growth, such as lettuce or 

 rape, in order that the laborers may distinguish the youug sorgho 

 from grass, which it greatly resembles in the early stage of its 

 growth. Any suckers, or superfluous shoots, which may spring' 

 up in the course of the season, should be removed. 



The great object sought in France in the cultivation of this 

 plant, is the juice contained in its stalks, which furnishes three 

 important products, namely, sugar, which is identical with that 

 of cane, alcohol, and a fermented drink analogous to cider. This 

 juice, when obtained with care and in small quantities, by de- 

 priving the stalk of its outer coating or woody fibre and bark, is 

 nearly colorless and consists merely of sugar and water. Its 

 density varies from 1,050 to 1,075, and the proportion of sugar 



