@CT , — mar. 1859-60.] On the culture of Sorgho and Imphi. 305 



me the favor to send. Those produced from the seed which you 

 sowed yourself offer nothing calling for remark, hereafter I may- 

 be able to continue and extend my observations and experiments 

 and to submit a special treatise on the subject embracing what- 

 ever information the time at my disposal will enable me to make. 



Be good enough, Sir, to bring this report, incomplete as it is, 

 to the notice of M. Montclar, and to ask how we can send him 

 the seed which we have reaped in considerable quantity. 



Meantime accept, Sir, the expression of my most devoted and 

 sincere duty. 



(Signed) Perrottet. 



The foregoing valuable report of M. Perrottet fully confirms 

 the remarks I made at a former meeting, when the subject of the 

 Imphi seed was first brought before us. I then stated my belief 

 that this newly introduced variety would not be found to differ 

 materially from the Andropogon (or Sorghum) Saccharatus which 

 is grown extensively in the Ceded Districts and Southern Mah- 

 ratta country, and with the cultivation of which in the latter coun- 

 try where it is known among the Mahrattas, by the name of Shalu, 

 (I was familiar during many years.) 



Naturalists particularize seven defined species of Sorghum as 

 cultivated in S. Asia — fifty-six specimens of Sorghum were sub- 

 mitted under different names to the Exhibition of 1857,*' and the 

 number might probably have been increased from the dry grain 

 districts. 



I have always suspected that most of these are referrable to a 

 single normal type, and that the numerous varieties are due to 

 the long period of domestication during which this grain has been 

 cultivated as the staple food of the people in the unirrigated tract* 

 of Africa, Arabia, Persia, India, China, &c. 



The seven species enumerated by Kunth, examined pp. 501-2, 

 are the following : — 



1. Andropogon Sorghum, 



Brot. 



2. Niger, Kunth. 



3. — Cernutjs, Roxb. 



4. Bicolor, Roxb. 



5* Andropogon Rubens, Kunth 



6. Saccharatus, 



Roxb. 



7. Caffrorum, 



Kunth. 



* Jury Report of 1857, p. 36—3. 



