Composition of the Dart or Doora Grain. 565 
ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE DARI OR DOORA GRAIN. 
BY PROF. JOHNSTON. 
Under the names of Dura, Doora, Dhoora, Juwaree, Jondla, 
and Dari, the seed of the ./Indropogon Sorghvm, forms an article 
of diet in India, Arabia Turkey, the Levant, and other parts of 
the world. Araono; other kinds of grain brought to this country 
on speculation, during the last two years, was a quantity of this 
doora. Mr. Thompson, of Leith, to whom it was consigned, put 
some of it in my hands for analysis, with a view of ascertaining 
how far it could be recommended as a wholesome and nourishing 
food for man or for stock. It weighs upwards of 601bs. a bushel, 
is prized more highly than maize, (corn,) and brings a higher 
price than this grain in the Levant, where they are both abundant. 
It is of the size of a large millet seed, is covered with a husk or 
envelope, and gives a beautiful white flour. When analyzed it 
was found to consist of: 
Water, -_....- ir96 per cent. 
Starcli, - - 68-70 
Sugar, r - 1'84 
Gum, - - - 1-23 
Cellular fibre, (liusk,) 4-6G 
Casein thrown dowii by acetic acid, - 4*71 
Other j)rotein compounds, - - - 6'48 
11-19 
99-58 
This analysis shows that it has a nutritive quality about equal 
to that of the average of our samples of wheaten flour. It may, 
therefore, be mixed or ground up with wheaten flour, without any 
deterioration in the quality of the flower. It differs from wheat 
in containing a larger per centage of the substance above called 
casein — a variety of protein matter, which occurs more abun- 
dantly in the oat. This, however, does not affect its nutritive 
quality, though it may, in a slight degree, modify its flavor. The 
total per centage of protein compound, 11-19, is about equal to 
what is contained in our best wheaten flours. 
This seed might be prepared and eaten as millet is, and it may 
be used with advantage in its unprepared state, in feeding cattle 
or poultry. The ripening of such a seed as this in our country, 
(England) is out of the question, but it is possible that it might be 
sown for cutting or eating green, and for affording an early bite 
in sj)ring, or a late one after harvest, by sowing it upon stubble 
fields. — Jour, of ^g. 
