164 TIE CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 
in the second place, it is due to the person giving the 
order, who, probably, is little able or willing to enlighten 
him: in either case dissatisfaction and loss is the result. 
In the manufacture of alcohols from the sorgho for the 
market, it is well for the farmer to know what is required, 
as regards strength and quality, so as to be guided in 
making an article which will find ready sale; and first 
and foremost, doubtless, he would like to know what is 
considered the market proof of spirits in America. By 
proof is meant the strength in alcohol which ‘a liquor in- 
dicates on the areometer, and is derived from the English 
excisemen, who proved each cask as it eame from the dis- 
tiller or importer, levying a heavy duty per gallon on 
the amount of alcohol contained; when it passed the 
officer’s hands, he gave a certificate of its strength, which 
was proof to the customer, the bung being sealed up and 
stamped. 
In America usage has designated a certain per centage 
of alcohol in liquors, as the standard strength on which 
the price is to be calculated, and according as the per- 
centages exceed or fall short of this, the spirit is above or 
below proof. This standard is composed of one half 
water and one half spirit, marking 50° on the guage or 
areometer, at the temperature of 60° Fahrenheit. 
Of course, if the farmer be far from his market, the 
less water he transport in his casks the better, and he 
ought in this case to make high wines or alcohol, now so 
much used for camphene, &c., whilst the one who is under 
less charges for transportation, may be guided by the 
demand, whether it shall be low wines, high wines, alco- 
hol, brandy, or rum that he produces from his juice—all 
