CHAPTER XXXIV 

 THE NON-SACCHARINE SORGHUMS 



The term "non-saccharine" as applied to the group of 

 sorghums discussed in this chapter is somewhat indefinite 

 as some of the kafirs have a fairly sweet juice and are 

 doubtless capable of being developed into saccharine 

 varieties. The non-saccharine sorghums, with the excep- 

 tion of broom-corn are usually called grain-sorghums, 

 because they are more valuable for grain than for forage. 

 Their growth in the United States on a commercial basis 

 is quite recent, although some of the durras were intro- 

 duced into California in 1874, kafir being introduced in 

 1876. 



484. The grain-sorghum belt. — ^ Owing to the re- 

 markable drouth resistance of the grain-sorghums and 

 their ability to withstand dry, hot winds they are most 

 completely at home in the United States in that part' of 

 the Great Plains region comprising western Texas, the 

 western third of Oklahoma, the western half of Kansas 

 and all of Colorado and New Mexico lying east of the 

 mountains. The most distinctive feature of this region 

 is its climate. The annual rainfall averages about 20 

 inches, varying from 15 to 25 inches, most of which comes 

 from April to September, inclusive. The summers are 

 hot, and over much of the area steady winds prevail 

 throughout the growing season making evaporation es- 

 pecially rapid. The conditions are often such as to destroy 

 all forms of tender vegetation. Throughout this area 



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