152 SUGAR-CANE. 



down at the ends, resembling Indian corn in its early 

 growth, and broom corn, to which it is nearly allied, at 

 maturity. Flowers in a panicle at the top, at first 

 green, changing through the shades of violet to pur- 

 ple, when more advanced. It is seen in Fig. 126. 



This plant has lately been introduced and used for 

 forage, and experiments have been made with it for the 

 manufacture of molasses or sirup and sugar. 



It is rich in saccharine matter, and a large amount of 

 nutritive fodder can be obtained from it. 



It grows best on a dry soil, and under a hot sun, and 

 is usually planted in the same manner as Indian corn, 

 both as to preparation of ground and time of planting ; 

 generally in hills when it is intended to ripen its seed, 

 and in drills when it is wanted to cut up green for soil- 

 ing purposes, or to cure and feed out in winter as a 

 forage crop. 



Various opinions have been expressed, by practical 

 farmers, as to the comparative value of this new addi- 

 tion to our cultivated plants, and these opinions have 

 been influenced much by the locality in which it was 

 grown. 



Its culture, which was extensive in New England 

 during the first year or two after its introduction, has 

 been, to a great extent, abandoned there, while further 

 experiments, in other sections of the country, have 

 been attended with greater satisfaction. 



It has usually received the specific name of Sorghum 

 sojccharaium, Holcus saccharaius, &c., names which had 

 been previously applied to another plant. It seems 

 proper to yield to the prior claim, and I prefer to specify 

 it as the Sorghum nigrum. 



The Sugae-Canb (Saccharum offidnarum) is a tropical 

 grass closely allied to Erianthus. It has a simple un- 

 divided, jointed, and smooth stem, often two inches in 



