Groups.
The cultivated sorghums of this country may properly be divided into five groups, as follows : broom-corns, shallu, sweet or saccharine sorghums, kafirs, and durras. Popularly they are classed as broom-corns, saccharine sor ghums and non-saccharine sorghums, the last class including both kafirs and durras. The term non saccharine is cumbersome and not distinctive, as some of the kafirs have a fairly sweet juice and could doubtless be developed into saccharine varieties. The term kaoliang, mentioned on page 572, designates Chinese varieties in general, it being the Chinese name for sorghums.
I, Broom-corn. (Fig. 809; also Fig. 309.) Description.—Pith dry ; internodes usually longer than the sheaths ; peduncles erect ; panicles corym bose or umbelliform, 10-28 inches ; rachis one to two inches long; spikelets obovate, mostly awned ; glumes acute or obtuse, equaling the seeds.
History.—The origin of broom-corn is not known. It was probably derived by selection from a sweet sorghum having elongated branches and a shortened rachis. This selection was very probably made in Italy several centuries ago. The first mention of the use of this plant in broom-making is from an Italian source, and sorghums have been cultivated in Italy for eighteen centuries or more.
Varicties.—There are only two recognized agri cultural varieties of broom-corn, the standard and the dwarf. The standard is characterized by stalks 10-15 feet high and a panicle or brush 15-28 inches long, usually fully exserted from the upper sheath or "boot." Its seed is sold under several names, but these do forms with recognizable dif ferences. The dwarf form grows only 3-0 feet high, with a panicle 10-18 inches in length, usually partly enclosed by the upper sheath. [See Broom-corn, page 216.] II. Shallu.
Description.—Pith dry ; internodes about equaling the sheaths ; pe duncles erect ; panicle large, 10-15 inches long, ovate pyramidal, loose and open, pale yellow, branches corn - monly droop ing ; rachis as long as the panicle ; spikelets elliptical lanceolate, awned ; empty glumes straw-colored, hairy, becom ing gaping and inrolled at maturity ; seeds oval, flattened, white or pearly, hard, fully exposed at maturity by the spreading and inrolling, of the gi inues; awns long, yellowish and rather persistent.
irst.o-y.—A peculiar sorghum introduced from India, where it is extensively cultivated in Bombay and the Deccan under the native name, Shaft, usually as a winter crop. It was imported and tested by the Louisiana Agricultural Ex periment Station more than ifteen years ago. It is now found growing at scattered points from Kansas to Texas under such names as "Cali fornia wheat," "Egyptian wheat," and "Mexican wheat." The source of these culture areas is not known, but probably from the Louisiana importation.
Varieties.—But a single variety is found in this country. The stalks are slen ler, 5-7 feet tall,with rather small leaves. It requires 100 to 120 days to reach maturity. Its value is not yet known.
[II. Sweet sorghums. Deseription.—Pith juicy and sweet; internodes about squaling the sheaths ; pe duncles erect (recurved in Gooseneck); panicle vari able, loose and ovate to compact and cylindrical ; rachis variable in length; spikelets ovate, oval or obovate, awned or awn less ; glumes equaling or shorter than the seeds ; seeds pale orange to deep red.
History.— T h e sweet sorghums of the United States were obtained originally from two widely separated regions,—China and Natal. The Chinese variety reached this coun try in 1853, by way of France. It was at first called sorqho.
From it has since been derived our well-known Amber sorghum. The Natal varieties, fifteen or sixteen in number, collectively called Imphee, were brought from Europe in 1857, and were first grown in South Carolina and Georgia. From them have descended our Orange (Neeazana), Sumac (Koom bans) and Gooseneck (native name not certain). These are varieties in common cultivation today. Three other little-grown varieties, Collier, Planter's Friend and Sapling, are probably of the same origin. Many additional forms and so-called varieties have since arisen through sports, selections and natural crossing. The sweet sorghums are not sharply sep arated from the kafirs.