For the Southern States. 



133 



DHOURO. OR EGYPTIAN CORN. 



f Sorghum Vulgare.) 

 By B. M. Hudson, Esq. 



This cereal is ordinarily supposed to be a uative of Asia, but 

 it is cultivated largely as well in Africa, some portions of the West 

 Indies and South America. In the United States it was formerly 

 planted quite extensively in the Southern States j but, at present, 

 many more times as much of it is grown in Kansas as in all the 

 rest of this country. Its name varies almost with tlie locality in 

 which it is raised; acd the varieties— the results of sports or 

 crossings — are almost as numerous as its designations. In Kan- 

 sas, which must be regarded as the leading locality of its present 

 production in this country, two varieties mainly are cultivated, 

 the Bed and the White. Both of these are good, equally so, per- 

 haps, unless as to productiveness, for it is generally believed that 

 the Red produces much more grain than the White. Also it is 

 said that the Bed will ripen seed farther North than the White; 

 but in the Southern States this is of no consideration, in as much 

 as both, in one season, have produced seed from which a second 

 seed -bearing crop has been produced without difhculty. Nor does 

 it appear, as far as actual experiment has gone, that the Bed is 

 much, if any, more productive than the White in the Southern 

 belt, at least near the Gulf coast. 



In nutrition the grain is but little behind wheat; while its 

 yiel<i per acre is greater than any cereal in the known world. From 

 100 to 150 bushels of grain on rich lands is but an ordinary yield ; 

 and it is claimed that in Kansas this year near 200 bushels per 

 acre have been produced. This is quite possible of belief to those 

 who saw the magnificent panicles on exhibition ac Atlanta, at the 

 International Cotton Exposition this autumn. In certain portions 

 of Kansas, where prolonged droughts are usual, its cultivation 

 has recently been successfully introduced as a substitute for 

 wheat; for drought seems to have but little iutiuence to retard its 

 growth. Indeed, when, planted side by side with Indian Corn, the 

 latter from drought has been curled and twisted almost beyond 

 hope, the former exhibited no external effects of the dry season. 



Of course the yield varies with the soil on which it grows, 

 the richer the soil the greater the yield ; but it will grow well on 

 soil however poor; in this respect taking precedence even of the 

 cow pea. It grows from six to tvelve feet high, and may be re- 

 peatedly cut for green soiling. For, not only as a cereal, making 

 a meal far better than that of ludian Cora, but also as a forage 

 plant the Dhouro is invaluable. Not only does it spring up from 

 the stubble, when cut at from 3 to 5 feet high, but also after ma- 

 turing seed-heads it sends forth shoots or suckers from lower 

 joints, which in turn produce smaller heads. It is rich in saccha- 

 rine matter and aftbrds a good, though rough hay or fodder when 

 cured. Cut when very young and succulent it is not easy to cure 

 unless the weather be fine; but, as it continues to grow till frost, 

 making new suckers from the joints all the time, it may be allowed 



