THE IMPHEE. 35 
imphee in that colony during the past year. He also says that he 
sent a small amount of the seeds to friends in this country some three 
years ago; but that nothing had resulted from it. 
I have had further intelligence of the manufacture of imphee sugar 
in Caffraria by Mr. Wray, from Mr. Charles H. Caldecott, a merchant 
of Port Natal, who is at present in New York. This gentleman 
informs me that he both saw and tasted imphee sugar in the colony, 
and that it does not differ from the sugar made from the ordinary 
cane. 
RESEARCHES OF DR. JACKSON. 
At the recent meeting of the United States Agricultural Society at 
Washington, January 13th, 1858, Dr. Charles T. Jackson being called 
upon to give his testimony upon the capability of the imphee to pro- 
duce sugar, stated, that he had been employed by the United States 
Patent Office to make experiments upon both sorgho and imphee. 
Seed heads and stalks of imphee had been sent him for examination 
by Mr. Browne, of the Patent Office ; he had given them minute study, 
and had sent in an official report to the government. The juice of 
_imphee would give nine per cent. of true cane sugar, and six per cent. 
additional of glucose. It would give twelve per cent. of alcohol or 
proof spirits, which was peculiarly suitable for the manufacture of 
brandy, because of an agreeable aroma which it contained. This very 
large yield of alcohol which it and the sorgho would afford, would 
materially affect a very important interest. Three fourths of the 
alcohol made in Massachusetts last year was consumed in the manu- 
facture of burning fluids, and in mechanical and chemical operations ; 
and if these plants can afford us a readier and cheaper supply of 
alcohol than the cereals it is a very strong recommendation for their 
culture. His official report will be found in the next Report of the 
United States Patent Office. 
The following letters, from Governor Hammond to Mr. Wray, will 
fully explain his estimate of the value of the imphee. 
