1 24 SORGHUM. 



years, it has been demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt, that the 

 value of the sorghum for the production of sugar increased, upon an 

 average of the 35 or 37 varieties tested, fully 500 percent, and in 

 many cases 1,000 per cent, after the period when, according to the 

 authorities cited, it was recommended that the crop should be out up. 



It will be observed, also, how completely at variance the above 

 quoted authorities are in reference to the subsequent treatment of the 

 crop after cutting it up, the one recommending that it be stored, even 

 for months; the other, that it be immediately worked up. The im- 

 portance of this latter course of treatment can hardly be overesti- 

 mated, as appears from data herewith presented. 



I remember, in 1881, that an Ohio farmer, who met me one day as I was 

 looking over my sorghum plat in Washington, and who did not know that I had 

 any interest in it, told me that the crop ought to have been worked up long be- 

 fore, for it was suffering. He also told me that he had grown sorghum for 20 

 years in Ohio. Now this was during the latter, part of July, when, according 

 to his twenty years' experience, he was sure that the crop was deteriorating. 



Well, that plat contained some 35 varieties, and it had been d;iily examined 

 for at least two months before this, and it was examined daily for at least three 

 months after the time when this farmer, with his 20 years' experience, was con- 

 vinced that it was suffering. 



The results of all these examinations are published, and are accessible to you 

 all. If you examine them, you will fitid that after the time when this farmer 

 would have it cut up, and worked it, this crop increased in the amount of avail- 

 able sugar at least 200 per cent. 



Length of Period for Working Sorghums. 



Reference has already been made to the very great difference exist- 

 ing between the different varieties of sorghum, as to the length of time 

 needed for them to reach maturity. It is not known that experiments 

 have been made to determine this difference accurately, until those 

 lately made at the Department of Agriculture. It has also been 

 shown, as already remarked, that those varieties requiring long periods 

 for their complete maturity, have been the varieties largely cultivated 

 in the Northern States during the past thirty years. 



The results given in the Annual Report of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, page 130, Table 9(), show not only the number of days from 

 time of planting, to complete maturity of each variety, but also the 

 number of days during which the several varieties were in a condition 

 for working in this latitude^ 



By this table, the farmer in any section of the country, may be able 

 to select such varieties as the natiire-of his climate will give him reason 

 to believe may be successfully grown ;' or, if his season ])ermits, he may 

 select several varieties, which, coming to maturity in succession, will 



