102 SORGHUM. 



Comparison in Weight of Stripped Stalks and Juice. 



Chinese. African. Indian. American. 



No. analyses 136 384 50 414 



Weight, pounds 85 1.58 1.13 1.14 



Juice, per cent , 4.3.29 60.80 61.19 60.13 



Percentage of available Sugar in Juice. 



Chinese. African. Indian. American. 



Seed in mill!: 2.10 3.66 3.28 3.43 



Seed in dough 2.83 4.64 5.97 6.42 



Seed, hard 4.51 6.41 5.36 7.11 



Sucker seed in milk 5.18 6.70 7.68 7.G9 



Sucker seed in dough 4.98 8.46 7.75 8.91 



Average 3.92 5.97 6.01 6.71 



Percentage of Solids not Sucrose (including Glucose) in Juice. 



Chinese. African. Indian. American. 



Seed in milk 4.80 5.06 4.79 6.48 



Seed in dough 5.40 4.85 4.39 5.11 



Seed, hard 4.42 3.79 4.16 4.46 



Sucker seed in milk 4.39 4.13 4.35 4.32 



Sucker seed in dough 4.63 3.78 4.10 3.89 



Average 4.73 4.32 4.36 4.65 



From the above tables, the general resemblance between the Afri- 

 can, Indian, and American varieties is noticeable, as to their quality 

 of juice and its amount ; but, while the Indian and American varieties 

 have about the same weight, the average of the African varieties is 

 much greater — the proportion between the African, American, Indian, 

 and Chinese, iu weight, being as follows : 100 : 72 : 71 : 54. 



It will be seen, also, that the average content of sugar is a little 

 greater in the American varieties than in any of the others, and this 

 result may be due to the effects of our climate during the thirty-three 

 years of their cultivation in the United States ; or, to the fact that some 

 principle of selection has prevailed during their cultivation, since, as 

 is well known, their value as sugar producing plants has been steadily 

 kept in mind. 



Whichever view is taken of the matter, the practical conclusion is 

 most favorable, for it appears hardly probable, that, by chance, such 

 varieties only were introduced at that early day as were the best for 

 sugar. It would seem, then, possible that, by more intelligent and 

 systematic selection and cultivation, we might be able to produce a va- 

 riety heavier than any yet known, and with a higher content of sugar. 



Similar results with other cultivated plants are, by no means, excep- 

 tional. 



Xhe following table gives the relative heights and weights of the av- 

 erage sorghums from China, Africa, India, and the United States ; 

 also, the average length and weight of the panicles. 



