TIME FROM PLA>'TrN'G REQUIRED, ETC. 123 



before grinding, as it will be more free from impurities, if cured for a few daj's 

 before going to the mill. 



c. In a pamphlet entitled " Sugar Making from Sorghum," pub- 

 lished by the Clough Refining Company, page 5, directions are 

 given to 



Harvest as soon as the seeds begin to form, and before they get hard. Grind 

 the cane, if possible, soon after it is cut. 



d. In a pamphlet entitled "The Sorgho Manufacturers' Mau- 

 ua],"by Jacobs Brothers, Columbus, Ohio, 1866, page 4, it is stated, 

 that — 



The cane is in the best state for harvesting when part of the seed is begin- 

 ning to turn black ; or, in other word?, ichen the seed is in a doughy state. The 

 cane should be cut and shocked in the field, with tops on ; and in this condition 

 it may remain several months before being worked up, for the cane matures 

 aud forms more saccharine matter. 



e. In a "Report on the Manufacture of Sugar, Syrup, and Glucose 

 from Sorghum," by Professors Weber and Scovell, of the Illinois In- 

 dustrial University, 1881, page 22, they say: 



The proper time to begin cutting the cane, for making sugar, is tchen the 

 seed is in the hardening dough. The cane should be worked up as soon as pos- 

 sible after cutting. 



/. J. Stanton Gould, in a "Report on Sorghum Culture," made to 

 the Xew York State Agricultural Society in 1863, page 752, says : 



The seed of the cane (sorghum) continues in the dough for about a week. It 

 is the general impression the cane should be cut during this period, as it is then 

 sitpposed to have the greatest amount of saccharine matter; at least, this is 

 thought to be true of all the varieties except the White Imphee, which is usually- 

 cut jws< as it is going out of the milk or just entering the dough. 



g. In conclusion, we quote from Mr. Gould's paper, as illustrating 

 the cliaotic state in which our knowledge was prior to the work at the 

 Department of Agriculture. Upon page 740, he says : 



These conflicting opinions might easily be reconciled by a few well-directed 

 experiments. 



Again, he says, same page : 



After the most careful inquiry, orally and by letter, I am unable to find that 

 any such experiments have ever been made. 



Again, he says, page 747 : 



Th'^se experiments are not conclusive, and the whole question needs a care- 

 f li and accurate investigation. 



As the result of such an investigation, we call attention to the aver- 

 age results of the past years, as shown in the tables given in this 

 volume, from which it will be seen that, during each of the past three 



