G4 



REPORT OF TilE COIVIMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



rjoxiniate analyses have beeu made of the seed of two varieties of 

 sorgc^iiuu, the Early Aniher and the Chinese, the results of which are 

 .iiiveii below. Jt will be seen that this seed diflV'i-s but little in eo)ui»osi- 

 tion from the other c-ereiils, and closely resembles corn, and it will doubt- 

 le>ss prcjve valiuible as food for farm stock. 



Moisture 



Ash 



Fat 



Sui^ars 



Albumen, insoluble in alc'Oliol. 

 Albumen, suliible in alcobol. .. 



Gum 



StjM'cb, color. Sec 



Crude libel- 



Moisture was estimated from loss by drying at 105° C. Ash, by sim- 

 ple ignition; total albuminoids from total nitrogen multiplied by 6.25. 

 Under ''sugars" is given that portion of the 80 per cent, alcoliol extract 

 which was found soluble in water. The insoluble j)ortion of this alcohol 

 extract included a little red coloring matter, but otherwise seemed to be 

 identical with the " zein " of maize. G urn was extracted by ^vater, after 

 use of ether and alcohol. Fat was extracted direcjtly from the sample 

 by absolute ether; it was yellowish, semi-solid, and very much resembled 

 the fat similarly extracted from corn. Starch, color, &c., were deter- 

 mined by difierence. In early amber there was found 64.05 per cent, 

 and in Chinese sorghum 64.74 percent, of starch by titration, with Feh- 

 ling's solution of an acid extract made after extraction with ether, alcohol, 

 and water. 



Crude fiber is that portion, ash free, which still remains insoluble 

 after treatment of the sample with ether, alcohol, water, dilute hytli'o- 

 chlori(; acid, and dilute potassic hydrate. It is usually white or slightly 

 gray, and free from nitrogen. 



Proximate analyses have also been made of the scum and sediment 

 obiaineil in defecating the juice, with a view of throwing light upon the 

 chemical character of this important process. 



The result of these analyses are given below. 



Constituents. 



Moisture 



Asb 



Clilovophyll and wax 



Sugars 



Kesins and tiace albumen . . . 

 Gum 



Albuminoids 



nnuuis li!:o substances, dift' . 



Crn<b' fiber 



Starch isomers 



Tlie larr>e amoniit of ash in I.iberian lime precipitate and Honduras 

 skimming^ was due to the presence of considerable clay, which had been 



