Nineteenth Annual meeting. 



71 



to be so inferior to the others that it will not be considered further in making com- 

 parisons. The following table shows in detail the analyses of the nine other stalks; 



ANALYSES OF SINGLE STALKS OF SORGHUM, 1885. 



It may be seen from the above table, that there is a wide variation in the compo- 

 sition of the juice from the different canes. All the stalks were straight, upright, 

 and apparently healthy. They were weighed and measured with the leaves and upper 

 joint removed. The saccharimeter used is of the Soleil-Scheibler pattern, and the 

 reducing sugar was determined by Soxhlet's modification of the Fehling method. 



The seed from number two was saved, as that stalk seemed best, all things con- 

 sidered, notwithstanding number eight had a slightly higher percentage of sucrose. 

 Seed from this stalk was planted in the spring of 1886. It germinated well; the 

 ground was in excellent condition, and the crop grew vigorously, many stalks stand- 

 ing over ten feet in height. The protracted drouth of August and September injured 

 it badly, however, over one-third of the leaves being killed. Other analyses made by 

 the writer have plainly showed that this killing of the leaves of the plant injures the 

 quality of the juice in a marked degree. Twelve partial analyses were made. Owing 

 to a press of work, the analyses were not as complete as those of the year before, in 

 most cases only the polarization of the juice being determined. The stalks showing 

 extreme results were fully analyzed. The average polarization was 56.33. The best 

 stalk was 76 inches in height, weighed 1.867 pounds, and yielded 50.3 per cent, of juice, 

 of specific gravity 1.08156, and containing 15.73 per cent, of sucrose and 1.89 per 

 cent, of reducing sugar. The juice polarized 65.52. By comparing this with the 

 stalk from which seed was planted, it will be seen that there is a considerable increase 

 in the size and weight, a slight increase in the specific gravity of the juice, a slight 

 increase in the per cent, of sucrose, and a greater increase in the per cent, of reducing 

 sugar. The results, while showing no marked improvement, are encouraging, in that 

 they show that cane grown from the selected seed was more than able to hold its own 

 in an exceptionably unfavorable season. To what exent the improved condition of 

 the soil is to be credited, is a matter which cannot be determined. The results are 

 not regarded as conclusive, and the experiment will be continued in the future as 

 long as it seems profitable, if opportunity permits. 



