The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-08
NEW CEREALS.
They Come From Manchuria and
Yield Tremendously.

Two new kinds Of grain, of highest
value OF human food, are now being
introduced into thihs country through
the plant bureau at Washington. One
OF them comes from Manchuria and
the other from Russia. Either of
them will produce a considerable
greater number Of bushes to the acre
than wheat. and in quality and pala-
liability. when made into bread or
prepared in other shapes for the table,
they are not excelled by any Of our
own cereals.
The one from Manchuria has long
been the principal food staple Of that
great province and Of northwestern
China. where more Of it is raised than
any other kind OF grain. 1t Is not dis
family related to our familiar sorg-
huns. but 1t is a very different kind
Of plant. developing seed heads eight
inches or more in length ard weigh
ing q quarter Of pound apiece.
These heads, when ripe, are punches
OF solidly massed seeds. round in
shape and about the size or little
bigger.
Three distinct, varities Of the plant
are grown, In the region described,
where. through selection during CEN
turtles Of cultivation, their superior
qualities have been developed to a re-
markable extent. DR.. Frank 8. Mey-
er. one Of the explorers Of the plant
bureau. made special study Of them
incidentally to trip which he took
last year. In the course Of which he
crossed and recrossed the lofty noun
tains OF northern Korea and southern
Aanchuria. passing, through q country
never before traversed by white man.
On returning to civilization. ne brought
back with him a few dozen Of the
seed heads. which being duly thresh-
ed out at the department Of ,agricul-
ture at Washington have furnished
material for experimental planting.
Forty Bushels 20 Acre.
Meanwhile the plant bureau has
been obtainins from other parts of
the world. Through It's explorers,
number of, varieties 'of the same kind
of plant--notably one from, Africa.
which. rested In the field, has yielded
20 bushels 0fiyrainYto the acre. When
II II considered that wheat. even un.
der most favorable conditions. rarely
gives more than, II bushels to the
acre. II wliltbs seen how mir prom
lee IL ,6htSred by this new cereal. FUR
theruaorS. one should understand that
II To- q DRY land crop. specially adapt
ed TO Che senAi-arid parts Of our.
country. and requiring astonishingly
little water ,a 8a, rSii
The yieid Of the Manchurian vsri-
eties. though large. II not 30 great
a. that Of the one ahov4' mentioned.
Much can be None to ssmprovs them
in this respect, however. by scientific
breeding. From .. market standpoint.
the kind most In demand for hu-
man food purposes is sure to be white
---the seeds Of different varieties be-
Ing OF different colors-merely be-
cause OF popular prejudice in favor
OF white cereals. This is q matter
which has nothing what ever to do
with the question Of palatability.
Already. in an experimental way.
some varieties Of the grain are being
grown In northern Texas. western
Oklahoma, eastern new Mexico. and
southwestern Kansas. Their cultiva.
tion IL not yet on 4 commercial scale.
though the new cereal is being used
In small quantities. for griddle cakes
and other such purposes. by the
farmers In that part OF the country.
fhey grind 1t In little household mills,
making in this way q sufIicient guam.
tity Of the -four to satisfy domestic
requirements. ~ s
1t has often been said that IL we
were altogether deprived Of wheat, of
corn. Of barley and Of rye. not to
mention oats, We could. by familiarly
understood process of selection and
breeding develop el..irely new and
very satisfactory cereals from vari.,
Gus grasses. The above mentioned
grains. Of course. are all of them
merely grasses. But here. in this
grain sorghum. II such 1t may be call
ed. is a valuable cereal already de-
veloped. 1t Is one OF the most valu-
able and desirable food plants in the
world, and Its cultivation encouraged
by the department OF . gr.c';.tr-e, is
destined to prove a great source o.
-