TIME FROM PLANTING KEQUIKED, ETC. 125 



enable him to extend bis working season, and yet have his cane of each 

 sort in the best condition for sugar or syrup production. Planted, as 

 these several varieties -were, side by side in the same soil, and on the 

 same day, the comparative results given in the table referred to are 

 fully trustworthy, and could have been secured in no other wav. 



These results are of direct practical value to the sorghum gi'ower, 

 and were confirmed by the experience of 1881 and 1882. 



Period for Working the Sorghums. 



In the following table is given the working period for the different 

 varieties of sorghum, the number of analyses made during this period, 

 and the maximum, minimum, and average per cent of available su^rar 

 during this period. 



The average number of analyses of each variety is 15, so that the^c 

 results may be relied upon with confidence. The entire period is from 

 July 30th to November 17th, thus allowing 110 days in the latitude or 

 AVashingtou for working up the crops, which may be so planted or 

 selected among the different varieties as to enable each crop to reach 

 its maximum value at the time of being worked up. 



Tbe average minimum of available sugar of the thirtv-five varieties, is 

 6.44 per cent, while the average maximum is 12.51 per cent. The 

 average of the best half of the thirty-five varieties, during the entire 

 period, is 10.97 per cent, Avhile the average df the piwrer half during 

 the entire working period, is 8.63 per cent. The average of the entire 

 number during their entire working period, is 9.77 per cent of avail- 

 able sugar. 



It will be remembered that these varieties were planted April 29th' so 

 ihat the length of time for each to reach the condition represented by 

 these averages may be readily determined, and are given in one of the 

 columns. 



As will be seen, this period varies from 92 to 139 days, and several 

 of these later maturing varieties appear even in this latitude to have 

 failed in reaching their best condition, as will be seen in the fact that 

 their maximum of available sugar falls far below that of other varieties 

 of shorter periods of development. In fact, many of these varieties can 

 not be successfully grown for sugar, perhaps, except in the Gulf States. 



Owing to the fact that the amount of syruji which maybe produced 

 from a juice depends upon the sum of the sucrose and glucose, it is 

 obvious that syrup may be produced from the canes in any condition 

 of maturity; but even for syrup production, it will be seen by reference 

 to the tables of analyses of the several varieties, that the maximum of 

 syrup may be produced at the same i^eriod when the sorghum may be 



