296 CORN CROPS 



increase of sweet sorghum as the acreage of the two crops 

 of late years is about equal. Beginning with 1890, the 

 acreage has continued to increase up to the present 

 time. 



224. How the crop is utilized. — In the Central States 

 east of the Mississippi River, these sorghums have been 

 cultivated principally since 1865 for the manufacture of 

 sirup. The extent of sirup manufacture for the census 

 years is as follows : — 



Year Gallons 



1860 6,749,123 



1870 16,050,089 



1880 28,444,202 



1890 424,235,219 



1900 • . . 16,972,783 



The principal States in sirup manufacture for the last 

 three decades have been Tennessee, Missouri, and Ken- 

 tucky, but the industry has shown a rapid decrease in 

 all these States. In only one State, North Carolina, has 

 it shown a notable increase. Figures 97 and 98 show 

 graphically the distribution at two periods. 



225. As a forage crop. — West of the Missouri River 

 and southward in the Great Plains region, the culture of 

 sweet sorghum is principally as a forage crop. It is an 

 important forage crop in the drier parts of Kansas, 

 Oklahoma, Nebra.ska, and Texas. The use of sweet 

 sorghum as a forage crop has developed since 1880. 



226. Classification of sweet sorghums. — The following 

 classification is adapted from Ball : — 



A. Peduncle and panicle erect. 



1. Panicle loose, open, branches spreading to horizontal 

 or drooping ; rachis two-thirds as long to equaling 

 the panicle. 



