352 AISTNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



sufficientl}' large scale to insure uniformity of grade, treated by the in- 

 vertase process perfected by the bureau to prevent crystallization, 

 canned, labeled, crated, and shipped to market. An improved sys- 

 tem of commercial grading of sirup was devised. 



Technically the process has proved to be an unqualified success 

 and it has been operated at very moderate expense. Noncrystalliz- 

 ing sirup of high and uniform quality was produced from farm- 

 made sirup of varying character. As a result of the working out of 

 this chemical-technical problem, farmers producing cane sirup were 

 able to consolidate their output on a sufficiently large scale and into 

 such a uniform product as directly to interest brokers and wholesale 

 grocers in its distribution in a systematic manner. 



A study was made of the manner of production of cane sirup on 

 the farms and directions showing how the quality of the product 

 could be improved were distributed to producers. At the same 

 time experiments were conducted for the purpose of improving the 

 quality of low-grade sirup by various procedures, including treat- 

 ment with decolorizing carbon. Promising results were obtained 

 and investigations along this line will be continued. An investi- 

 gation was also started for the purpose of working out all necessary 

 details for the production of cane sirup on a larger scale in mills 

 of increased capacity. It is believed that the development of the cane- 

 sirup industry depends on larger scale operation and consequent 

 reduction in costs, either by increasing the size of the unit mill or 

 by the operation of cooperative blending and canning plants, taking 

 advantage of a refining-in-transit freight rate. 



The application of the invert ase process for preventing crystalli- 

 zation or so-called sugaring of cane sirup was greatly extended for 

 use at producing sirup mills during the year. Demonstrations of 

 the process were made by representatives of the bureau in Georgia, 

 Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. 



Sorgo sirup. — The situation with respect to the production and 

 distribution of sorgo sirup, formerly known as sorghum sirup, 

 is practically the same as that which is being corrected in the 

 case of cane sirup. Approximately 40,000,000 gallons of this prod- 

 uct is now manufactured annually in the United States bj^ a large 

 number of individuals, but on a relatively small scale in most cases. 

 At the same time, sorgo sirup is an important product in the agri- 

 cultural scheme of a large farming area. Sorgo sirup as produced 

 by this large number of farmers varies greatly in quality and the 

 producers are not able to furnish a sufficiently large volume of 

 sirup of uniform quality to permit them to establish a stable market. 

 Farm bureau federations in certain sorgo-growing States are plan- 

 ning to imdertake cooperative marketing of sorgo sirup and have 

 requested the bureau to work out the chemical and technological 

 problems involved. Arrangements to this end have been made. 



Use of invertase in products other than cane sirup. — As a by-prod- 

 uct of the work on the use of invertase for preventing crystallization 

 of cane sirup, and at practically no additional investigational expense, 

 some important uses of this product in the confectionery industry 

 have been developed and protected by public-service patents. These 

 improvements make possible more rapid and continuous processes 

 for producing candy of fondant-center type, thereby reducing 

 time and expense of manufacture. Chocolate-coated fondant centers 



