1857.] The ^-Sorcfhiun" as a Sugar Plant^ etc. 531 



statements, tlie following in relation to the yield of a sugar planta- 

 tion of eight hundred acres in the year 1852. 



Sugar, one million three hundred tJwusand pounds; Syrup, sixty 

 thousand gallons. 



This is 1,625 fts of sugar and 75 gals, of molasses to theacre, which 

 in value— the former at 6 cts. per pound, and the latter 30 cts. per 

 gallon — amounts to one hundred and twenty dollars per acre. Such 

 an average on so large a plantation must be regarded as a pretty fair 

 example of the sugar estates of Louisiana. Now compare with these 

 results those furnished under most favorable circumstances by the plant 

 proposed as a competitor. The Sorghum, from all the facts gathered, 

 where the best machinery for crushing and manufacturing has been 

 employed, will yield from 150 to 200 gallons per acre of a very fair 

 syrup, but no sugar, which at 30 cents, per gallon — taking the high- 

 est figure, supposing its saccharine value the same, which is not the case, 

 having more glucose in its composition — would reduce it to seventy- 

 five dollars per acre or about one-half the value of the former prod- 

 uct; this, provided the cost of growing and manufacturing were the 

 same, would be clearly against the latter. The canes of the Sor- 

 ghum will yield, when crushed, 53 per cent, of their weight in juice 

 and when ripe and in a proper state this juice has a specific gravity 

 of 1.062, and must be reduced from one-sixth to one-eighth its bulk or 

 it takes from six to eight gallons of juice to make one gallon of it 

 in syrup. Hence, the quantity of fuel, time and labor necessary in its 

 reduction is considerable. The large amount of albumen contained in 

 it, and the difficulties attending its proper purification, still add to 

 the expense. 



Up to this time it has defied all the efforts put forth to make out 

 of it an economical article of sugar. Whatever success has been had 

 by all the processes that have yet been adopted, is not in a practical 

 point of view, of any avail. 



A very fair specimen of syrup was brought before the Cincinnati 

 Horticultural Society, exhibiting some beautiful crystals, throwing 

 the society into a pleasant wave of excitement ; but how soon dissipa- 

 ted, when it was learned that in the process of manufacture, loaf 

 sugar had been introduced to promote granulation. 



We do not deny that granulation has by dint of effort been effect- 

 ed to a small and imperfect extent ; we have statements from various 

 sources to that effect. 



