TRANSACTIONS. 237 



charinc matter is supposed to correspond "witli tliat of the 

 panicles or seed, the best yield being at the time of attain, 

 ing the milky stage ; although in the vicinity of Washing- 

 ton city, it is stated by Mr. Stansbury in his late work, 

 that the ripening of the seed had no unfavorable effect upon 

 the saccharine character of the juice. In South Africa, 

 the panicles are taken off as soon as they appear on plants 

 designed for syrups. "We doubt not that by planting at the 

 earliest practicable date, the sorgho may be so advanced as 

 to allow of cutting for weeks in good condition for use, for 

 syrups, and then it may also remain in condition for use, if 

 stripped of its leaves, for weeks after being cut and re- 

 moved to shelter. 



I am happy to know that very many of our farmers are 

 now preparing to test for themselves the value of this 

 plant, generally in small, and therefore it may be hoped, 

 careful experiments. Should it prove, with others, availa- 

 ble, as it has with me, for the purpose of syrup making, a 

 demand will at once be created for the necessary machinery 

 for its manufacture — a demand that will as readily be met, 

 as the necessary fixtures are very simple — the rolling pro- 

 cess being the most efficient ; the boiling process the same 

 as for maple sap, except in the time required, as for maple 

 an average of thirty gallons is required to be reduced to 

 one, while of sorgho juice only from four to five, as peo- 

 ple may prefer. 1 design to test the plant, the present sea- 

 son, on one acre of plain land, and the products for the va- 

 rious purposes of which it is represented capable, by care- 

 ful experiments. 



Yours truly, 



EDWARD D. BOYLSTON. 



"BusYFiELD," Amherst, May 11, 1S5T. 



