CHAPTER VI 

 THE KAFIB CORNS AND DOUBAS 



The genus Sorghum, one of the grass family, 

 contains three rather distinct classes of plants : 

 (1) The sweet or saccharine forms, the plants 

 usually known as "sorghum" among farmers; (2) 

 the non- saccharine fodder sorghums; (3) broom- 

 corn (wholly distinct from the broom- corn millet 

 described in the last chapter). All these va,rious 

 sorghums are considered to be forms of one vari- 

 able species. Sorghum vulgare or And/ropogon Sor- 

 ghum, native to the Old World. 



The non-saccharine fodder sorghums include all 

 the dburas (spelled also dhoura and durra) , Egypt- 

 tian corn, milo maize, kafir corn. There is no one 

 name that is now used to designate this group, 

 but kafir corn is now best known and is thought 

 -by some to be destined to become the popular 

 class name, although doura is the oldest and 

 most attractive name. The kafir corns bear a 

 contracted dense panicle or head, in distinction 

 from the long, wisp-like heads of the broom-corn; 

 some of the sw«et sorghums bear drooping heads, 

 but they are chiefly distinguished by their sweet 

 juice. Of the kafir corns there are two groups, 

 — kafir corn proper, with erect, rather long heads 



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