Sorghum Hand Book. 



VARIETIES OF SORGHUM. 



The Sorghum Sugar Canes are generally classified into two great 

 divisions — the Sorghos and the Imphees; the former chiefly of Asiatic origin, 

 and in general distinguished by expanded panicles, more or less drooping; 

 and the latter exclusively of African origin, by closely contracted and erect 

 panicles. The Imphees and the Sorghos have been crossed, and the resulting 

 hybrids intercrossed, until numerous varieties have been produced, more or 

 less resembling each other, and possessing similar properties in common to 

 a greater or less extent. These varieties again have been subjected to the 

 natural modification resulting from the various conditions of soil andclimate 

 to which they have been exposed. The difficulty, then, of assigning these 

 numerous varieties to their proper class, is plain. 



In general, the Regular Sorgho, Honduras, Mastodon, and other varieties 

 with expanded panicles, may be classed as Sorghos, and the Liberian, 

 Neeazana, Early Amber and Early Orange, and other varieties with close 

 panicles, may be ranked as Imphees. We give in the following pages a num- 

 ber of illustrations, by the help of which cane growera will be assisted in 

 classifying their own varieties. Some of these varieties go under different 

 names in different localities. 



The engravings on the opposite page accurately represent some of the 

 varieties of Sorghum grown for a number of years in Southern Ohio, under 

 our own care, for the purpose of supplying ourselves with pure seed. We 

 have long since discontinued handling seed. 



These engravings show the appearance of the various seed heads, and of 

 the seed, the latter being full size, both naked and enclosed in its glumes. 



The stalk of the regular Sorgho, or original Chinese sugar cane, is tall 

 and tapering, more slender than corn, and more graceful in appearance. It 

 grows to the height of ten to twelve feet or more. The stalk is not so 

 thick as the Imphees. As the plant approaches maturity a whitish efflores- 

 cence appears iipon the parts underneath the footstalks of the leaf. The 

 time required for the full development of the cane is about five months ; but 

 this depends of course largely on the soil, climate and season. 



The cuts show correctly the appearance of the seed-head and seed of two 

 of the Imphees or African sugar canes. The seed is represented both naked 

 and as inclosed in its glumes. It will be noticed that the seed-heads of the 

 Imphees are much more compact than the Sorgho. The color of the 

 Oomseeana seed is a dark brown, whilst that of the Liberian is a deep red. 

 The Neeazana is another variety of the Imphee. It does not differ very 

 widely in its appearance from the Liberian, but the seed is a cream or wood 

 color. "The Neeazana," s'ays Mr. Wray, "was held by Zulu-Kaffirs 

 (natives of the Southeast Coast of Africa, from whence the different varieties 

 of the Imphee were obtained,) to be the sweetest of the Imphees; but I 

 found the Oomseeana to be quite as sweet," 



