308 On the culture" of Sorgho and hnphi. [No. 10, new series. 



In the present state of our knowledge we are justified in limit- 

 ing the number of distinct species to two kinds. 



With regard to the practical part of the subject I think the So- 

 ciety may safely intimate to Government that no advantage will be 

 obtained from a larger importation of foreign seed ; that the sugar 

 yielding^species is already extensively cultivated in this Presidency, 

 and that persons interested in the sugar trade have ample means 

 of obtaining material for the manufacture. 



M. Perrottet has observed that the grains or corns of the Imphi 

 and of the Chinese variety are larger and finer than those of the 

 common cholam, but that the ryots do not care to sow them. 



This remark suggests the importance of employing greater care 

 in the selection of the indigenous seed. From the remarks noted 

 above on the Sorghum of Rajahmundry, it will be seen how strik- 

 ing are the diversities in the quality of this grain grown in a sin- 

 gle district. 



I have no doubt that if pains were taken to secure the employ- 

 ment of the best description of seed only, and if seed was supplied 

 from one province to another, the indigenous grain would be 

 rendered equal in every respect to the African and Chinese varie- 

 ties. For this purpose the largest and finest corns should be 

 selected by [passing the seed through sieves like those used by 

 pearl merchants which should retain all the larger seeds suffering 

 the small and imperfect ones to pass through. In the experiments 

 made at Rajahmundry I found that 100 selected corns weighed 

 52 grains, another set 53*3, while similar parcels taken at random 

 weighed 42*5, 44, and 46 grains. 



The subject seems to be worth the attention of the Local Ex- 

 hibition Committees, who might offer rewards for samples of seed- 

 corns in quantities of not less than a eandy or other measure not 

 too small, 100 or 1,000 corns of which taken at random should 

 weigh the heaviest, taking the average of several successive par- 

 cels to ensure a fair examination. 



Prizes might also be offered for the best produce certified to be 

 raised from such prize seed. 



