974 APPENDIX. 
nitrogenized products, very rare, are exceedingly dear, whilst carboniz- 
ed matters (starch and sugar) are sold at a much lower price, by reason 
of the profusion with which they are found in all the vegetable kingdom. 
If we dwell somewhat at length upon these considerations, it is to 
show that the high price of sugar is a profound anomaly, contrary to 
the universal laws of production, and which should certainly disappear 
after a short time. And this anomaly is so well understood, that it is 
with a lively enthusiasm that the appearance of this sugar sorgho has 
been greeted, and that the alccoholization of topinambour and sweet 
corn kas been adopted. Thus, what a haste is shown in all France to 
commence the cultivation of this Chinese sugar cane ; how everywhere 
each makes a trial; this one on whole hectares, that one on small 
plats, even upon the corner of his garden. _ 
Nevertheless, up to the present time, the sugar sorgho has not been 
used nor manufactured to any considerable extent, except as an alcohol 
producing plant. Decisive experiments will not lung be lacking to 
decide upon the yield of sugar. But even admitting, which we are 
very far from believing, that the sorgho cannot give crystallizable 
sugar, it still will exercise a wide influence upon the production of 
saccharine matter. It is easy to be understood that the South under- 
taking the alcoholization of a plant much superior to the beet, would | 
so interfere with our departments of the North, that they would be 
obliged to restrain themselves entirely to the manufacture of sugar. 
Although highly supported, the sorgho has not failed to have de- 
tractors ; for example, they reproach the sugar sorgho with being a 
very exhausting plant. They say that its enormous profit is very 
greatly reduced the moment that you deduct the cost of gathering, 
manufacturing, and the damage done to the soil by its culture. Fortu- 
nately, it is not difficult to meet these objections, and to show their 
slight weight. It wiil suffice us for that to rest simply upon the au- 
thentic facts already known, and upon others more recent, but not less 
irrefutable. Let us endeavor to apply to the sugar sorgho, the rules 
in use with the different scientific agriculturists to determine the action 
of vegetables upon the soil. We see that the sorgho is a plant of 
rapid growth, is but lightly shading, and as a gramineous plant, may, 
in truth, be ranked among those which take much from the soil; on 
