
For the Southern States. 133 

a 
DHOURO, OR EGYPTIAN CORN. 
(Sorghiunt Vulgare.) 
By £. M. Hopson. 
‘This cereal is ordinarily supposed to be a native 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 Southerp States; but at present, many more 
times as much of it is grown in Kansas asin all the restof this country. 
Its name varies almost with the locality in which it is raised; and the 
varieties—the results of sports or crossings—are almost as numerous 
asits designations. In Kansas, which must be regarded as the leading 
locality of its present production inthis country, two varieties mainly 
are cultivated, the Red andthe White. Both of these are good, equally 
s0, perhaps, uoless as to proluctivenass, foritis gonerally believed 
that the Red produces much more grain than the White. Also it is 
said that the Red will ripen seed farther North than the White; butin 
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 difficulty. Nor does it appear, as far 
as actual experiment has gone, that the Red is much, if any, more 
productive than the MVhite in the Southern belt, at least near the Gulf 
coast. ‘ 
In nutrition the grain is but little behind wheat; while its yield 
per acre is greater than any cereal in the known world. From 100 to 
150 bushels of grain onrich 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 mag: 
nificent panicles on exhibition at Atlanta, at the International Cotton 
Exposition last autumn. In certain portions of Kansas, where pro- 
longed droughts are usual, its cultivation has recently been success- 
fully introduced as a substitute for wheat; for drought seems to have 
but little influence to retard its growth. Indeed, when planted side 
by side with Indian Corn, the Jatter 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 weli on soil how- 
ever poor; in this respect taking precedencé even of the cow pea. It 
grows from six to twelve feet high, and may be repeatedly cut for 
green soiling. For, not only asa cereal, making a meai far better 
than that of Indian Corn, but also asa forage plant the Dhouwro is in- 
valuable. Not only does it spring up from the stubble, when cut at 
from.3 to 5 feet high, but also after maturing the seed-heads it sends 
forth shoots or suckers from lower joints, which in turn produce 
smaller heads. Itis rich in saccharine matter and affords a good, 
thougeh 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 tiil frost, making new suckers from the joints all 
the time, it may be allowed to mature seed, be cut and then easily 





































