186 SORGHUM. 



It is doubtless true, that had the season been longer, it wonld have 

 been found that theLiberian and Honduras, having once attained this 

 full devolopmeutof sugar, would also have retained it; but, as is seen 

 by the chart, tlie heavy frosts and subsequent warm weather which 

 happened about October 24th, caused a rapid diminution of sucrose 

 in each variety, and a corresponding increase in glucose. 



The converse of what is found true of the sucrose is clearly shown 

 as to the development of the glucose, and it is seen that a minimum 

 quantity once attained is continued along time, and that this minimum 

 is quite as low as tlie average amount found present in the sugar-canes. 

 It was most unfortunate, as tending to retard the development of 

 the sorgluim sugar industry, that Dr. C A. Goessmann, through his 

 examination of canes, which, through long keeping after being cut up 

 had suffered an inversion of their sugar, should have concluded his 

 report, made in 1879, on the Early Amber cane, in these words : " The 

 presence of a large amount of grape sugar in all the later stages of the 

 Earlv Amber, as well as of all other varieties of this species, is a seri- 

 ous feature in the composition of the juice, impairing greatly the 

 chances for a copious'separation of the cane sugar by simple modes of 

 treatment." This sweeping conclusion is quite at variance with the 

 results which liave just been recorded, and does not appear to be justified 

 by the focts upon which it is based, as will be seen upon page 129. 



It is obvious that the results depicted upon the chart are not to be 

 taken as entirely exact, but the general foct represented is, without 

 doubt, true, and with a still larger number of observations, the ap- 

 proach to true curves would be found nearer than here represented. 



An average of all the examinations made of these four sorghums, 

 during these periods when they were suitable for cutting, gives the 

 following results : 



Early Ambpr, from Antriist 13th to October 29th inclusive, 15 analyses, ex- 

 tenflinir over 78 days, 14.6 per cent sucrose. 



White Liberia n,' from Auiiust 13th to October 29th inclusive, 13 analyses, ex- 

 tendins: over 78 days, 1H.8 per cent sucrose. 



Liberian,from September 13th to October 29th inclusive, 7 analyses, extend- 

 in" over 46 da\s, 13.8 per c<Mit sucrose. 



"Honduras, from October 14th to October 29th inclusive, 3 analyses, extend- 

 ing over 16 days, 14.6 per cent sucrose. 



It will be seen, that, in the ft)ur varieties grown, it was most fortu- 

 nate to have had those differing so widely from each other in nearly 

 every respect, except only the all-important one, their practical equal- 

 ity in their content of sugar after they had reached maturity. 



When each variety had quite matured, the greater portion of each 

 was taken, and samples of excellent sugar was made without trouble, 

 and in considerable quantity, from each. 



