REPORT OF M. HARDY. | 843 
Cost of distilling, at 30 fr. per hectolitre, 
including hand labor, fuel, casks, 
general expenses, interest on capital 
employed, keeping of material, &e.,  - - 2386°40 
Total expenses to be deducted, - —- St Whex - - 3158 40 
Net profit, - - a tind? erie - - - Fr. 8313 22 
Or, $1662 65 
This enormous profit would be due to the actual high price of alco- 
hols ; but, supposing even that this should fall to 70 francs per hecto- 
litre, which is certainly the lowest point it could reach, the total net 
profit per hectare would still be 3,350 40 francs. It is hence readily 
seen that the production of alcohol from the sugar sorgho in Algeria 
will be a leading industry of such nature as to resist all crises, and 
which cannot be too sedulously fostered. 
The sugar sorgho needs, to pass through all the phases of its vege- 
tation from the planting of the seed to the maturity of its grain, 2,760 
degrees of heat. ‘The middle of the month of May is the most favorable 
time for planting and to secure fine growth. If sown at that time, the 
plant would ripen about the 15th September, and consume 122 days 
from planting to ripening of seed. This period is, undoubtedly, the 
most favorable to obtaining seed for planting. However, the growth 
may be made at a lower temperature, say an average of 12° to 15° 
(cent.) ; this would enable us to commence planting about the Ist 
April. The seed planted at this time would produce plants ripening 
their seed towards the 13th August, at the end of 135 days of growth. 
Thus successive plantings might be made until the middle of July ; the 
latter would ripen seed in the latter part of November, after 143 days 
of growth. : 
The last mentioned date is, I think, the very latest on which plant- 
ing may be done, with any certainty of ripening the stalks. Judging 
from the marked peculiarity possessed by the stalks of the sorgho, of 
remaining unchanged for several months, it is certain that distilleries 
can be kept working on them for six months of the year. 
They have seemed to fear, in the south of France, that in the long 
