FUTURE PROSPECTS OF SORGHUM. 19 



quantity so small as to offer little, if any, resistance to complete purg- 

 ing in the ordinary centrifugal. 



It is a matter of very great practical importance, to determine those 

 conditions which prevent its being produced in the manufacture of the 

 syrup ; since in no case has its presence been detected in the freshly 

 expressed juices of either sorghum or maize. It appears to be formed 

 by transformation of other constituents of the juice in the progress of 

 syrup production. 



In fact, unless the sorghum sugar industry shall prove to be unlike 

 any other which has been developed, we may safely predict that many 

 questions similar to the above will, from time to time, arise and demand 

 solution. 



It is worse than idle to dogmatize upon such questions ; but dogmas 

 will prevail in the future, as in the past, where carefully ascertained 

 experimental results are wanting, and it is only the results of careful 

 research which can clear the way to the establishment of this industry 

 upon the basis of the greatest economy. 



To such an end whoever contributes, even in the least degree, may 

 consider himself a public benefactor; and whoever, either through 

 ignorance or wickedness, shall hinder the consummation of a result 

 so greatly to be desired, shall receive, as lie will most justly deserve, 

 the execration of his fellow men. 



FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE SORGHUM SUGAR I>'DUSTRY. 



From the results already secured and recorded in this volume, there 

 would appear no good reason to doubt, that, within a few years, we 

 may render ourselves wholly independent of other nations for our su- 

 gar supply. 



It may appear somewhat hazardous to venture any prediction ; but 

 I think such a result will be accomplished within the next decade, and 

 that, by 1900, we shall export sugar produced from sorghum to 

 Europe. That such a result appears possible, yes, most probable, rests 

 upon these few well established facts : 



1. About 38 per cent of all the cultivated land in the United States, 

 including the grass land, is at present devoted to the cultivation of 

 maize: thus showing that the conditions of soil and climate in our 

 country conspire to make the production of maize profitable. 



2. The demands made upon the soil, and the conditions of climate 

 necessary to the full development of sorghum, are practically identi- 

 cal with those made by and necessary to maize. 



3. The methods of cultivation of the two crops are identical; so 



