416 ON THE MILLETS AND OTHEH SMALL-GRAINED GRASSES. 



In Northern Africa, millet — but a much larger and more prolific grain, 

 derived from a species of Sorghum — enters generally into cultivation 

 under the name of Dourah or Dari. It is produced in considerable 

 quantities in Upper Egypt, and being 40 or 50 per cent, lower in price 

 than wheat, is more commonly the food of the fellah or peasant than 

 any other grain. The late Professor Johnston states that by his analysis 

 Dourah flour contains 11^ per cent, of gluten. 



There seem to be three leading species, with short, close-set panicles, 

 having either white, red, or olive-coloured seeds, probably Sorghum vul- 

 gare, S. rubens and S. bicolor. 



While many of the Sorghums have rigid, compact heads, others have 

 loose and spreading panicles, and the colour of the seed or grain appears 

 to vary considerably, so that there is some difficulty, in the absence of 

 precise information, in identifying them or naming them botanically, 

 amid the scientific complexities of Holcus, Sorghum and Andropogon, to 

 which they have severally been referred by various authors. Then they 

 bear different local names in different countries : — The broom corn of 

 the United States, the negro or Guinea corn of the "West Indies, the 

 Dourah of Northern Africa, the Kaffir corn of South-Eastern Africa, and 

 the Jowarree or Choluni of India, being evidently the same plant and seed. 



The Sorghums require a more tropical climate to bring their seed to 

 perfection than the common millets of Europe, but yield a much greater 

 quantity of seed per acre than other grains. 



The different kf nds of Sorghum are usually called joar in India, where 

 they form principal objects of culture, and are of much more importance 

 than would appear in Europe, as many of the inhabitants live as much 

 upon these small or dry grains as upon rice. The joar is the durra of 

 some Arab tribes, and the zurrut of others. It is extensivly cultivated 

 throughout Asia, and appears to be the " tall corn" of the Chinese. It has 

 been introduced into the South of Europe, where it is chiefly employed 

 in feeding cattle and poultry ; but is also made into cakes. The flour 

 is white, and a good deal resembles that of the Indian corn in nature. 

 The species commonly sown in India are S. vulgare and S. bicolor. Kala- 

 joar (S. cernuum) is a distinct species, which forms the principal food of 

 the mountaineers of the Munnipore district. S. saccharatum is also culti- 

 vated in many parts during the rainy and cold seasons, on land which 

 is too high for rice. The stalks and straw of all are much valued as 

 fodder for cattle, being cut into small pieces commonly called kurbee, 



Great Millet, or White Cholum. — (Sorghum vulgare, Pers. ; S. covi- 

 mune, Beauv. ; Holcus Sorghum, Linn. ; H. durra, Forsk ; Andropogon 

 Soiyhum, Brow.; Jo war, Hind. ; Janoo, Tel. ; Cholum, Tarn. ; Durra 

 or Doora of N. Africa. Culms erect, panicles contracted, very dense. 

 There is a red seeded variety, called Yerra Janoo, in Teloogoo, the 

 panicle of which is rather loose. S. vulgare has long been cultivated 

 in the southern parts of Europe, India, Egypt, and Barbary. The seeds 

 of the Sorghum are large, compressed, nearly oval, variable in colour, 

 white, yellow, reddish, or black. In parts of India the great millet is 



