REPORT OF TEE CHEMIST. 37 



SO tall as tLe wliite Libeiiau. Itis secd-lieads were of moderate fullness 

 and of very dark color. 



Plate II sbows tlie Chinese Sorglmm grown on the department grounds. 

 Its lieigtit is about that of the Early Amber. Its seed-heads are fuller 

 and more compact and somewhat resembles a head of sumac ; hence the 

 synonym " Sumac Cane." It is also known as " Chinese Cane." 



Plate III represents the White Libcrian sorghum grown on the depart- 

 ment grounds. This variety is rather taller than the Early Amber. The 

 stalk curves at the top leaving the head pendent ; hence the synonym 

 " Gooseneck." The seed-heads are shorter, more compact, and of lighter 

 color than the Early Amber. 



Plate IV shows the Honduras Sorghum grown on the department 

 grounds. It grows about oiic-luilf taller than either of the above vari- 

 eties. Its seed-top is reddish brown and spreading ; hence the synonym 

 " Sprangle Top." It is also called "Mastodon" and "Honey Cane." 



In the following table are given the residts of the analysis of each of 

 the plants in the successive stages of development. It will be observed 

 that the amount of glucose (or uncrystallizable sugar) diminishes, and 

 the amount of sucrose (or true cane sugar) increases. It will also be ob- 

 served that the plants diifer widely in the date when the sucrose is at 

 its maximum, but are alike in this, that this maximum is attained at 

 about the same degree of development of the plant, viz., at full maturity, 

 as indicated by the hard, dry seed, and the appearance of off-shoots from 

 the upper joints of the stalk. It is also to be observed that the heavy 

 frost of October 24, which was sufficient to produce one-half inch of ice, 

 did not cause any marked diminution of sugar. 



For i)urpose of comparison, analyses are also appended of three varie- 

 ties of sugar-cane received from Louisiana, which arrived in excellent 

 condition, and doubtless fairly represented the average character of this 

 famous sugar-plant. 



It will be understood that the residts of these tables are to be taken 

 as a wliole, since it was practically impossible to secure in each case 

 specimen stalks for examination iu the laboratory, the development of 

 which in every case corresponded to the date when the plant was cut, 

 and, therefore, it doubtless happened that plants taken from the same 

 row upon September 15, for esam]do, were in reality no further devel- 

 oped than those selected a week earlier, but taken as a whole the several 

 series of analyses are convincing as showing the rate and progress of 

 development of saccharine matter in the plant. 



By reference to the tables it will l)e seen that the analyses of the sev- 

 eral sorghums under date of October 29 were made after they had been 

 subjected to a very hard frost, sufticient to have formed ice one-half inch 

 in thickness, and this cold weather continued for four days before this 

 examination was made. As will be seen, there appears no diminution 

 of sucrose in either of the stalks examined, and no increase of glucose 

 as the result of this fi-eezing and continued exposure to a low tempera- 

 ture. The examination of November 8 was made after a few days of 

 warm weather had followed this cold spell, and the influence of thi.s sub- 

 sequent thaw is noticealsle in the diminution of sucrose and the increase 

 of glucose iu each specimen examined. 



From this it would appear that the effect of cold, even protracted, is 

 not injurious to the quality of the canes, but that they should be speed- 

 ily worked up after freezing and before they have again thawed out. 

 This is a matter of such practical importance that some exi)eriments 

 should be made to learn whether the girup prepared from the juice of 



