498 SORGHUM. 



The Imphee cane, as a rule, produces more crystals in 

 the syrup than the Chinese, consequently the latter is more 

 universally cultivated, being better suited to making syrup. 

 Besides, the African or Imphee cane grows much taller and 

 is easily blown down by high winds, making a tangled 

 mass in the field, very difficult to harvest. 



CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING}. 



Sorghum will grow and thrive, like Dhouro, on the poor- 

 est soils. When the earth is parched up by drought it 

 maintains its fresh, green color, and continues to grow. 

 However, it will thrive better on rich land, and, though the 

 juice may have more water, it will make far more syrup. 

 The roots of sorghum penetrate the soil farther than any 

 other cereal, and consequently deep plowing is absolutely re- 

 quisite for a full crop. Not only should the plow, but the 

 subsoiler should also be applied. On good land it grows to 

 a bight of 15 to 18 feet, o'n poor, badly ; prepared land, it 

 stops at five or six feet. Because it will grow on poorer 

 land than other plants is no evidence that poor land is bet- 

 ter for it. Therefore let the land be in good heat and the 

 increased quantity of syrup will well repay the labor. On 

 gravelly or sandy subsoils, the roots will go four or five feet 

 deep, and on this kind of land, if rich, it will make far 

 more syrup and of a better quality. 



It should be planted in drills three feet apart, and in four 

 or five days the young tender stalks will come up, looking 

 very much like grass. But it will soon begin to grow rap- 

 idly, and outstrip grass or weeds. When three or four 

 inches high, it should be chopped and thinned out, and but 

 little more work need be done to it. Two plowings are all 

 it should receive, as the roots penetrate the ground so thick- 

 ly the plant would receive more injury than benefit if plow- 

 ed after it is three or four feet high. Besides, by that time 

 the ground is so shaded by lateral branches and suckers the 

 weeds will effect no material injury. 



