164 SORGHUM. 



Bone meal: 



Per cent. 



Phosphoric acid 21.96 



Nitrogen (=N H3 5 .22 per cent) 4 .30- 



Sulphate of ammonia: ^ 



Per cent. 



Pure ammonium sulphate 98 39 



Sulphuric acid (S O3) S9 63 



AmmoniaCNHa) 2o.34 



Sulphate of potash: 



Per cent. 



Pure potassium sulphate 98 79 



Potash(K20) 53 37 



Sulphuric acid (S O3) 4o 42 



The superphosphate was such as is commouly sold in this vicinity ; 

 it was a good article, but not of the highest grade. The same may be 

 said of the kainite. The other fertilizers were of higher grade. It was 

 thought best to show the effect of each fertilizer on each cane in the 

 various stages of its growth. For this purpose, the results are classi- 

 fied in the three tables to correspond with a content of sucrose ; in the 

 first set below 5 per cent, in the second set of 5 to 10 per cent, in the 

 third set of 10 to 15 per cent, and in the fourth set above 15 per cent. 

 It will be understood, that the reLults embraced in the third and fourth 

 sets are those attained during the period when most of the canes were 

 in the best condition for working ; those in the first and second sets are 

 equally valuable as helps in settling the effect of the fertilizers on the 

 immature growing cane ; while the final averages must, after all, give 

 the most accurate general idea as to the effect of each fertilizer on each 

 cane during the whole season. 



We do not feel warranted in drawing any definite conclusions from 

 these final averages ; the close agreement between the averages drawn 

 from so many results, seems to point to the fact that the soil originally 

 contained sufficient food for the proper development of the sorghum 

 plants, and that the addition of these special fertilizers was unnecessary, 

 and resulted in no marked change in the composition of the sorghum 

 juices. In fact, the analyses made the year before showed the canes to 

 have the same composition as they this year Avere found to have, aud 

 equally large crops of four varieties of sorghum were then obtained. 

 These results must not be taken to prove, however, that on certain 

 soils, which are deficient in one or more essential constituents of plant 

 food, the addition of proper fertilizers will not be of great value. 

 Certainly, such additions to poor soils are likely to increase the crop : 

 whether the quality of the juice will be improved, must yet be de- 

 cided. 



