M. BOURDAIS’ STATENENT. 257 
My first experiments were most satisfactory, and I should not hesi- 
tate a single moment to pursue with new zeal, in consideration of the 
initiative taken by M. Hardy, and with the appearance of a new plant 
capable of giving in alcoholic products according to the figure of this 
philosophic experimenter, a net profit of about $1,662 64. Let us re- 
mark in passing, that Messrs. Madinier & Lacoste, in the new pamphlet 
which they have just published, under the title of “ Guide to the Culti- 
vator of the Sorgho,” carry this figure as high as 9241 fr. Let us re- 
mark the enormous discrepancy between these two computations, 
amounting to $185 30. 
“ By taking this figure of 9241 fr. as a basis, it is evident that a 
planter should, with a capital of $20,000, distil in six or seven months, 
the product of fifty acres, and realize thus the enormous profit of 
$37,000. ‘Twelve acres were quickly planted by me. Agreements 
with other persons permitted me likewise to count upon the yield of other 
estates upon which the sorgho culture had been undertaken. One may 
judge exactly by the following figures what are the results. The calcu- 
lation has been made to a most scrupulous exactitude: 
COST OF CULTIVATING ONE HECTARE (ABOUT 2} ACRES). 
1. CULTIVATION 
Plowing, - - . - wilt HS - $16 
Hoeing, - - - - - - 8 
Making irrigation furrows, - - - - 4 
Sowing, - - - - - - 9 
Watering, - . . > - - - 10 
Manures, - - - - - . 20 
' Hoeing, and subsequent cost of cultivation, - - ' 20 
$87 
2. First Cost or ManuFracture. 
Cutting the canes at maturity, . = : - $14 
Stripping the leaves (done by Arab children, at 1 fr. per day) 28 
Transportation of the canes to the manufactory, - ae 
"$50 
