532 The "Sorghum" as a Sugar Plant, etc. [December, 



We here subjoin from high authority on this subject, the answers 

 to the following interrogatories : 



"1. Do you succeed in granulating the syrup of the Chinese cane 

 in a satisfactory and profitable manner? 



2. Is the sugar of the Chinese cane, grape, or cane sugar, or a 

 mixture of both? 



3. Would you recommend farmers to cultivate the cane as a crop 

 with a view to the production of molasses, and the sale of the syrup 

 to sugar refiners?" 



The following is Mr. Belcher's answer : 



" Office of Belcher's Sugar Kefining Co., ") 

 St. Louis, October 26, 1857. J 



Dear Sir : — Yours of the 23d, making inquiries relative to my ex- 

 perience and success in granulating the syrup of the Chinese sugar 

 cane, is received, and I have carefully noted your remarks. 



I have made some experiments with the syrup, but have not suc- 

 ceeded in granulating it, and I very much fear that it will prove a 

 failure so far as sugar-making is concerned, and if it will not granu- 

 late, the syrup does not contain a due proportion of cane sugar. 



I am not prepared to say that refiners would buy the syrup of the 

 Chinese cane to any extent unless it will granulate. Some large 

 fields of this cane have been planted in South Carolina, Georgia, and 

 other Southern States, with a view of testing its sugar-making qual- 

 ities, and if they do not succeed in granulating the syrup into sugar 

 you may begin to doubt its virtues as a sugar-producing plant. 



Very respectfully yours, Wm. H. Belcher." 



He further adds. 



" N. B. — A Louisiana sugarplantcr made this season some seventy- 

 five barrels of the Chinese cane syrup. I have seen his report; he 

 could not granulate; and some barrels of this syrup from Louisiana 

 came to the market. The color was good, but the taste slightly acid 

 — not so sweet as the syrup or molasses of the sugar cane — and am 

 under the impression that it would ferment rapidly in warm weather. 



Yours, &c., W. H. B." 



Here you have the experience and views of one who understands 

 the chemistry and modes of manipulation in the manufacture of 

 the common southern sugar cane, and they fully corroborate our 

 experience after repeated trials in our Laboratory. 



Now the rationale of the matter, revealing the chief difficulty in 



