CHAPTER VII 
THE SWEET SORGHUMS 
THE sweet or saccharine sorghums are used 
both for the making of syrup and for forage. 
They are more corn-like in appearance than the 
kafirs because the panicle is more like a corn 
tassel in form. This panicle or head is usually 
loose and open, although it may be more or less 
dense when its grain is ripe. The grain is borne 
in the panicle or tassel, not in ears. The general 
directions for the growing of the kafir corns 
(Chapter VI) apply very well to the sorghums. 
The varieties of sorghum well adapted for 
soiling are Early Amber and Early Orange. The 
Early Orange produces a larger and heavier 
growth, and is a little later than the Early Amber, 
and is thus more suitablo for sections in which the 
seasons are long. The soils best adapted for sor- 
ghums are deep, moist loams, or those most favor- 
able for maize, although the crop may be grown 
successfully on light lands if they are well ferti- 
lized. Sorghum seems to be capable of withstanding 
drier conditions than corn, and thus its use is 
increasing where droughty conditions are liable 
to occur. 
(122) 
