DEVELOP3IENT OF SUCROSE AND GLUCOSE IX SORGHt'M. 195 



Early Appearance of Sucrose in Juices of Sorghum and Maize. 



A preliminary examiualion of one variety of sorghum, and two of 

 the varieties of maize, was made June I3lh, when the plants were about 

 two feet high, and it was found that, even at this early period, there 

 was in their juices an appreciable amount of both sucrose and glucose, 

 as will be seen by the following results : 



Juice of White Liberian Sorghum: sucrose, .12 percent; glucose, 

 .68 per cent. 



Juice of Egyptian Sugar Corn : sucrose, .25 percent; glucose, .94 

 per cent. 



Juice of Lindsay's Horse Tootb Corn: sucrose, .38 percent; glu- 

 cose, .98 per cent. 



From the above it would seem, that both forms of sugar exist in 

 these plants even in this early stage of development, and that the rela- 

 tive proportions of the two remain about the same for a long time, as 

 will be seen by reference to the tables (page 189). It has, however, 

 not been demonstrated that what is given in the above analyses as su- 

 crose, is such beyond question. It was, however, if not sucrose, at 

 least a substance not precipitated by sub-acetate of lead solution, and 

 without acti<jn upon Fehling's solution, until, like sucrose, it had been 

 acted upon by a dilute acid solution. It remains, however, a matter 

 rather of importance in its relation to vegetable physiology, than of 

 practical value as regards the production of sugar from these plants. 



Tlie Presence of Sugar in the Stalks of Sorghum, and its Aniount at Differ- 

 ent Stages of Development. 



The fundamental importance of this matter is so great, that any 

 doubts as to the facts set forth in this chapter are to be dispelled by the 

 most conclusive testimony which can be presented. 



The following conclusion adopted by a Committee of the National 

 Academy of Sciences, after the mature deliberation of eighteen months 

 and careful consideration of the data, and of the methods by which they 

 were ascertained, can not but be accepted as decisive, and is here given 

 from the Eeport of the National Academy of Sciences, entitled an "In- 

 vestigation of the Scientific and Economic Relations of the Sorghum 

 Sugar Industry, by a Committee of the National Academy of Sciences," 

 Nov., 1882, Washington, D. C." 



