336 



ANALYSIS OF SORGHUM- 



Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, D. C, September 27, 1866. 

 Dear Sir : I herewith submit to you the analyses of two new varieties of 

 Chinese sugar-cane, Nos. Ill and IV. 

 One hundred parts of No. Ill contain : 



Uncrystallizabic sugar 4. 3S 



Cane sugar 7. S6 



Sum total of the tivo sugars 12. 24 



Specific gravity of the juice 1.083 



One hundred parts of No. IV yielded : 



Uncrystallizable sugar 3. 60 



Cane sugar 5.94 



Sum total of the two sugars 9.54 



Specific gravity of the juice 1.075 



Both kinds of sorghum yield a fair amount of molasses of good flavor. The 

 juice mixed with beer yeast ferments, of course, like all sugary liquids, and the 

 wine fermented yields upon distillation alcohol — 100 pounds of cane sugar (C12, 

 Hii, On) yielding 51.12 pounds of absolute alcohol; 100 pounds of grape sugar 

 (C12.H12, O12) producing 46.46 pounds of absolute alcohol. 



An important matter to the farmer, under the existing internal revenue laws, 

 is the sale of sorghum molasses to the vinegar manufacturer, who, instead of em- 

 ploying high taxed spirits may use fermented molasses. One barrel of thick 

 molasses, diluted with water until the saccharometer indicates ten per cent, of 

 sugar, will probably yield six barrels of sugary liquid, which, after complete fer- 

 mentation with beer yeast, (75° to 90° Fahr.,) may be poured at once upon the 

 vinegar generators, or be first distilled and the alcohol thus obtained, after proper 

 dilution, employed for the same purpose. With a complete fermentation two 

 pounds of sugar yield one pound of alcohol. Every pound of alcohol produces a 

 little less than one and one-third pound of radical vinegar — that is, hydrated acetic 

 acid, (C4H3O3 + HO.) Hence a 10 per cent, solution of sugar will give (by 

 weight) a 5 per cent, alcohol, which will yield a vinegar containing a little less 

 than 7 per cent, (by weight) of hydrated acetic acid, fully strong enough' for 

 household purposes. 



I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



HENRY ERNI, 

 Chemist, Department of Agriculture. 

 Hon. Isaac Newton, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



