The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-01-04
The Rural Branching Sorghum,

Editor Of The Florida Agricultuyist:
The cultivation of SORGHUM
is attracting considerable attention
throughout the country. As a SUGAR
fodder and grain-producing plant, it
bids fair to take rank among our
most valued staples. Recent exten>
sive experiments by the Agricultural
Department at Washington, demon
state that the saccharine matter con,
tanned III some varieties of sorghum
can be extracted at as little expense
and as great profit as from sugar
caue. Some varieties seem better
adapted to one section Of the coun-
try than another, while some varieties
are Of more valnt. tor fodder or
for grain than for sugar. Last spring
the RMoL New Yorker sent out to
its subscribers, with other seeds,
new variety OF this plant called, from
the method of It's introduction, and
its peculiar habit of growth, the
Rural Branching Sorghum, requests
ing a report OF the success of the
experiment from different parts OF
the country. The results, according
to the published reports, differed
widely in different localities. AS al
rule, in the extreme north and north
west it proved an utter failure; in
the central portions OF the country
the crop was passable; while further
south it succeeded admirably. Ill
seems peculiarly adapted to this
State, and promises to be great
acquisition. / Ihaye recently had the
opportunity OF inspecting the results |
OF an experiment with this variety
by DIR. G. w. Davis, near Jackson-
vile, Fla, and it is through bis cour-
tesy that am able togive these, facts
to the public. The soil where it was
planted was dry, and very poor, hav-
ing been exhausted by continual
cropping for years, and it received no
fertilizers Of any consequence. Of
the seed planted on March 25d, forty |
terminated, producing four hundred |
stalks, or an average Of ten stalks to
every seed. Notwithstanding the
dry, poor soil, the plants grew off
well, seeming to flourish where the
soil was dryest. They received
about the same cultivation as required
by crop of corn. When fully
grown the stalks stood eight and ten i!
feet high. In September the stalks
began 10 throw out branches from
the main ste!n; some stalks produ.
cing as many as nine branches, each
of which, together with the main
stem, produced head of grain. If
the grain upon the principal stalk,
which ripens earliest, be cut as soon
as mature, the branching tendency is
increased, and the amount OF grain
produced is doubled. This grain
is a healthiul food for stoeh and
poultry of all kinds, and is greedily
eaten. The fodder is gathered from
July to November, yielding three
cuttings. DR.. Davis says: Il cannot
estimate the amount grown on an acre
but it would be enormous-have
seen nothing which would compare
with 1t as u fodder and grain bear-
ing plant. The seed from one hill
one seed-will sometimes equal one
pound-but two to three onces will
be about an average Tor each princi>
pal head."'
DR.. Davis proposes to put up the
seed he has thus Tar raised in small
packages tor distribution throughout
the State. Parties desiring the seed
can probably get it at a slight cost to
cover expense OF mailing, &c, by
addressing him at Jacksonville.
A. II. MANvILLE.
Lahe George FIa., Dec. 20, 'S1.