THE ANNUAL GRASSES 229 



spike-like panicle, as in the kafirs and some other grain 

 sorghums, to a loose, long branched panicle, as in the 

 broom-corns. The grains of the sorghums differ from those 

 of the cereals in that they are rounder. They vary in 

 size and shape with the varieties, but in general they are 

 much smaller than corn kernels, and usually red or white 

 in color. 



226. Classes of sorghums. Sorghums may be divided 

 into three main classes, namely, saccharine, nonsaccharine, 

 and the broom-corns. 



THE SACCHARINE SORGHUMS OR SORGO 



227. Description and varieties. The saccharine or 

 sweet sorghums are so called because of the high percent- 

 age of sugar contained in the juices of the stems, which 

 distinguishes them from the other two groups. When 

 the word " sorghum " alone is used, it usually refers to 

 the members of this group, which are sometimes known 

 locally as " cane." The sweet sorghums are used both 

 for forage and for the making of sirup or molasses. They 

 grow from 5 to 10 or more feet in height and have numer- 

 ous, rather broad leaves. The head varies in size and 

 shape from an open panicle, in appearance much like a 

 corn tassel, as in Amber sorgo, to a compact spike-like 

 panicle, as in Sumac sorgo. Their soil requirements are 

 similar to those of corn, although they may be grown 

 successfully on soils too poor to grow a good crop of corn. 

 The sweet sorghums are grown quite extensively both for 

 forage and for sirup in the South and Southwest. They 

 do not hold an important place as a forage crop in the 

 North, although within the past few years they have 

 been more generally grown. Many farmers, however, grow 

 a small area for the production of sirup for table use. 



