220 



SOEGHUM. 



TABLE SHOWING THAT THE INCREASE IN SUGAR DURING THE LATER STAGES IS NOT 

 DUE TO A DRYING UP OF THE PLANT. 



During the examinations of the various sorghums, tlie amount of su- 

 crose found present in many of the juices, especially during the later 

 periods of the plant's life, and determined both by analysis and polar- 

 ization, was exceptionally high : 



5 Analyses gave between 19 and 20 per cent of .sugar averaging 19. .35. 

 23 Analyses gave between 18 and 19 per cent of sugar averaging 18.,35. 

 46 Analyses gave between 17 and 18 per cent of sugar averaging 17.66. 

 73 Analyses gave between 16 and 17 per cent of sugar averaging 16.48 . 



The average amount of juice expressed was as follows : 



Per cent. 



In the 5 analyses 57.33 



In the 23 analyses 57.72 



In the 46 analyses 57.82 



In the 73 analyses 57.92 



In these cases certainly we might look for such drying up as is in- 

 sisted upon by many, but we have here an average increase from 16.48 

 per cent of sucrose to 19.35 per cent, or 2.87 per cent, while the loss in 

 juice is, on the average, from 57.92 per cent to 57.33 per cent, or only 

 .59 of one per cent. Besides, if we compare the results, as given in 

 the preceeding table, we find that the average of juice expressed from 

 the stalks in 59 analyses, in the first stage, i. e., before even the plant 

 had headed out, and when it might naturally be expected to be excep- 

 tionally full of juice, was but 58.72 per cent, practically the same as 

 the amount expressed when the sugar present ^vas excci)tionally high. 

 But it is to be observed, that, since the average sucrose, at this first 



