M. VILMORIN’S RESEARCHES. 327 
in some of the present sugar growing sections. Enclosed is an item 
which we have picked up. 
“M. Avequin, the distinguished chemist, says the N. O. Bee, has 
exhibited to us a specimen of very fine, well grained sugar, obtained 
from the plant known to botanists as the Holcus saccharatus, and com- 
monly styled ‘Sorgho.’ It is a species of corn, producing a small 
erain like millet, and is very easily cultivated. The sugar is extracted 
from the stem or stalk, and the yield is quite large. One acre of 
ground in cultivation, will produce from eight hundred to one thousand 
pounds of sugar. The sorgho has the advantage of ripening in sum- 
mer, so that the grinding can he effected from the close of July to the 
middle of September. The stalks and entire plant afford excellent 
forage for cattle.” 
Respectfully yours, 
Parker, WuHite, & GANNET. 
I then wrote to M. Avequin, and through his politeness received hig 
letter addressed to L’ Abeille de la N. Orleans (N. O. Bee), a transla- 
tion of which is annexed : 
To the Editors of the Bee: 
You have published at different times during the past year, some 
facts concerning the sorgho sucré, Holcus saccharatus, called the 
Chinese Sorgho. These communications failing to give anything 
exact as to the value of this plant, as an object of culture in Louisiana, 
. or as to the amount of sugar to be extracted from it, allow me to add 
something to what is already known of it, and thus assist in arriving 
at definite conclusions 
For some two years past the seed has been sown by several planters 
in small quantities, and with favorable results; but I know of none 
who have attempted to extract the sugar in large quantity. Still, this 
plant is quite important ; it ripens three months before the sugar cane, 
and it can be crushed from the early part of August, and throughout the 
whole of September, or still later even. This is at once a decided 
advantage. But those who have written upon the sorgho have, to my 
