EEPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 63 



Per cent. 

 Average per cent, of solid matter in juice from 23 specimens of Liberiau sor- 

 ghum , tops.. 16.91 



Average i)er cent, of solid matter in juice from 22 specimens of Liberian sor- 

 ghum butts . . 16. 71 



Average per cent, of solid matter in juice from 19 specimens of Early Amber 



sorghum tops.. 17.59 



Average per cent, of solid matter in juice from 21 specimens of Early Amber 



sorghum butts.. 16.7.5 



Average per ceut. of water in tops, 79 specimens 72. 45 



Average per cent, of ^^ater in butts, 79 specimcus 74.51 



Average per cent, of juice from tops, 50 specimens 4^.96 



Average per cent, of juice from butts, 51 specimens 46. 90 



Average per cent, of solids in juice from tops, 77 specimens - IG. 18 



Average per cent, of solids in j nice from butts, 80 specimens 16. 02 



Average specific gTavity of juice from tops, 84 si)ecimens 10.71 



Average specific gravity of juice from butts, 84 specimens - 10. 70 



From the above comparison it will appear that there exists no marked 

 dificrence in the amount of juice present in the upper and lower halves 

 of the canes, nor in the quality of this juice as indicated by either the 

 relative specific gravities or the total amount of solid matter present in 

 the juices. 



But by reference to the previous tables, giving the results in detail, 

 the fact will appear in the case of each of the sorghums examined that, 

 during the early stages of development of these plants, the total sugars 

 present in the juices is comparatively low, often not one-third of the 

 maximum afterwards found in the plant, and consequently the amount 

 of sirup possible to be made fi:om. this immature cane is proportionately 

 less than that which the same stalks would yield wlien fully matured. 



It will also appear that, during this early and immature state of the 

 plant, the relative amount of crystaUizable surgar (sucrose) as compared 

 with the total sugars present is much greater in the lov^^cr half of the 

 canes. This condition remains, apparently, until the seed has reached 

 the milky state, at which time the juices in both parts of the plant aji- 

 pear to be of equal value. But it must not be understood that the maxi- 

 mum content of sugar in the plant has been reached at this period of 

 development, since, as will be seen by the tables, this is far from the 

 fact. 



From this period in the plant's development until the perfect ripening 

 of the seed, the juices appear to uniformly increase in their content of 

 crystalhzable sugar, and to decrease in their content of uncrystallizable 

 sugar. 



Still later in the history of the plant there appears a slight deteriora- 

 tion in the quality of the juice from the lower half of the stalk, and it is 

 found generally to be somewhatinferior to the juice from the upper half. 



It appears probable that this deterioration of the juice from the lower 

 part of the cane marks the incipient stages of death and the ultimate 

 decay of the plant, the roots and leaves failing in their office to supply 

 the full amount of noimshment which the plant requii-es. It begins to 

 feed upon itself, so to speak, and it is to be observed that at this period 

 the off-shoots from the upper joints of the stalk begin a vigorous growth 

 and appear to live as parasites upon the parent stalk. 



It will appear also that at the first examinations the specific gravity 

 of the juices from the lower half of the cane is almost invariably greater 

 than that of the juices from the upper halves, and that an equahty of 

 specific gravity appears to indicate an equality betvreen the juices in 

 their content of sugar not only, but in its relative proportions oi' sucrose 

 and glucose. 



