MILLET. 



307 



previously to ploughing, given nothing but marigolds and weeds. 

 The luxuriant growth of the corn completely kept under the weeds. 

 A great number of the stalks were measured, and they averaged 

 10 feet from the root to the top of the upper leaf It had been 

 planted 10 weeks, and had, therefore, grown a foot a month. 

 Mr. Bravo is of opinion, that sown broadcast it would answer 

 either as a grain crop, as fodder, or ploughed in to increase the 

 fertility of the soil. 



Dr. Phillips, of Barbados, being of opinion that it might be ad- 

 vantageously employed as human food, requested Dr. Shier, the 

 analytical chemist, of Demerara, to determine in his laboratory its 

 richness in protein compounds (the muscle-forming part of vege- 

 table food) in comparison with Indian corn. He, therefore, caused 

 a sample of each to be burned for nitrogen, when the following re- 

 sults were obtained : — 



Indian com. Guinea corn. 



Water, per cent. . . 12-81 . 13-76 



In ordinary state — 

 Kitrogen, per cent. . 1'83 . 1"18 



Protein compounds . ll'ol . 7'42 



In dry state-- 



Nitrogen, per cent. . 2-10 . 1"36 



Protein compounds . 13'20 . 8"60 



According to these results, the Gruinea corn is less rich in nitro- 

 gen or protein compounds than Indian corn, though not much less 

 so than some varieties of English wheat. 



Indian corn meal, analysed by Mr. Hereford, from two locali- 

 ties, gave in the ordinary state of dryness 11*53 and 12*48 per 

 cent, of protein compounds — results which come very near to that 

 obtained by Dr. Shier. 



Sorghum avenacewm, or Holcus avenaceus, is a native of the Cape, 



Several species and varieties of sorghum have been introduced, 

 and more or less cultivated in the United States. It is often po- 

 pularly termed Egyptian corn. It is closely allied to broom corn 

 {S. fsaccJiaratum) , the head bemg similar in structure, and the seed 

 similar, except that in most varieties of sorghum, the outer covering 

 does not adhere as in broom corn. The plant bears a strong re- 

 semblance, while growing, to maize or Indian corn. There is 

 also some similarity in the grain, and it is extensively used as 

 food by many oriental nations. 



A variety, under the name of African purple millet, was some 

 years since introduced into JSI orth America, and recommended for 

 cultivation as a soiling crop ; but this, as well as other varieties, 

 do not possess any advantages over Indian corn. 



The natives of Mysore reckon three kinds, known as white, 

 green, and red. The red ripens a month earlier than the rest, 

 or about four months from the time of sowing. Near Bengal, 

 Bombay, and elsewhere, in Eastern India, sowing is performed 

 at the close of May or early in June. A gallon and a third of 

 seed is sown per acre, and the produce av erages 16 bushels. This 

 grain, though small, and the size of its head diminutive, compen- 



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