236 SORGHUM. 



will lie seen by reference to tlie first table, the stalks of both corn and 

 sorghum in the above experiment were divided almost equally by 

 weight into butts and tops, so that the above proportion fairly repre- 

 sents the proportion of yield of sugar in the upper and lower half of 

 the cane. There was a marked difference in the appearance of the 

 juice as it flowed from the mill (that from the butts being lighter in 

 color, especially in the experiments with corn) ; but, after the clarifi- 

 cation, no appreciable difference could be observed, nor was there any 

 difference in the product except the quantitative one above mentioned, 

 which Avas, however, a marked difference ; also, there was a marked 

 difference in granulation in favor of the juice from the butts. 



The following analyses are reported by Professors Scovell and Weber. 

 It will be observed that the great difference in the analyses does not 

 accord with the slight difference in specific gravity. 



Comparison of the loicer and upper half of tJie cane. — The two follow- 

 ing analyses were made to show what part of the cane is richest in 

 sugar : 



Amber — October 2nd, 1880.— Juice obtained from the upper half of 

 the stalks after topping as usual : 



Specific gravity 1069 



Grape sugar percent... 2 94 



Cane sugar percent ... 9.67 



Amber — October 2nd, 1880. — Juice obtained from the lower half of 

 stalks : 



Specific gravity 1.070 



Grape sugar .per cent 1 94 



Cane sugar per cent. . . . U .64 



The Encyclopedia of Chemistry II., 901, gives the following anal- 

 yses by F. N. Gill, Madras, India, of the top, middle, and butts of 

 two samples of sugar-cane : 



Water. Sugar. Fiber, Salts. Glucose. Unknown. 



Top 78 33 10 63 7 63 .31 2.64 .46 



Middle 75 61 13 31 .8 47 .26 If)! .84 



Butt 76 12 13 37 8 30 .23 1 M .46 



Top 79 48 9 49 7 58 .55 2 43 .47 



Middle 75 63 13 64 8 65 .36 .74 .08 



Butt 75.95 13 85 8 29 .35 .71 80 



It will be seen that the sugar-cane closely resembles sorghum, in the 

 relative value of the juices from different parts of the stalk. The 

 inferior quality of the tops is due to the fact, that the growing part of 

 the cane is always in a condition of immaturity ; and, knowing this, 

 the planters are accustomed to leave, as trash in the field, the upper 

 IDortion of the cane, knoAving that it is worthless for sugar making. 



Owing to the fact that it is often advised to cut the crop tAvo or 

 three joints above the ground, under the belief that the butts Avere 

 Avorthless for either syrup or sugar, the folloAving experiments were 



