522 SORGHUM. 



we obtained from these syrups, sugars of a high grade when compared 

 with other muscovado sugars as these were. The sorghum sugar pol- 

 arized 94°, the maize sugar polarized 90°, and the sugar from pearl 

 millet 92°. 



The yield of the syrup in sugar was large, the sorghum syrup giving 

 in its first crystallization 34.6 per cent of its weight in sugar, another 

 sample 31.3 per cent; the maize syrup giving in sugar 32 per cent of 

 its weight. 



In 1879, we obtained syrups from sorghum, which iu their first crys- 

 tallization yielded 54.7 per cent of their weight in sugar of excellent 

 quality ; another syrup gave 47.5 per cent, while a syrup irom the 

 stalks of common field corn gave 39.3 per cent of sugar. 



The above residts fully justified the conclusion given in the rejwrt of 

 the work of 1878, at the Department of Agriculture, viz. : 



The point which these experiments have fully settled is, that there exists no 

 difficulty in making, from either corn or sorghum, a first rate quality of sugar, 

 which will compare favorably with the best product from sugar-cane grown in 

 the most favorable localities. 



During the past years, nothing has been done or been developed by 

 later investigations to necessitate any modification of the above conclu- 

 sion. Since then, efforts have been directed toward the determination 

 of those conditious which would render such production the most profit- 

 able, and the continued and careful study of these several plants 

 during their period of life has appeared most likely to throw light up- 

 on practical work. 



i3esides the experimental plat of sorghum upon the department 

 grounds, there were grown, as has been stated, numerous small plats of 

 these several varieties upon the farm of Mr. Golden, near Uniontown; 

 also small plats of several kinds of maize upon the farm of Dr. Dean, 

 near Benuing's Station ; also a small plat of six varieties of sorghum 

 by Mr. Green upon the Potomac flats at the Virginia end of the Long 

 Bridge. These small plats were intended to be worked at the small 

 mill, for the purpose of learning their relative productiveness and 

 value in the production of good syrups, rich in sugar. 



The number of separate experiments made with the small mill was 

 40, and these extended from September 12th to October 22nd. 



The following tables give every detail concerning these experiments, 

 and will repay a very careful consideration. Analyses of juices and 

 syrups, weights of stalk and average yield, percentages of juice and of 

 syrups, the time occupied in each operation, temperatures of defecation, 

 and in fact any detail calculated to throw light upon these results is. 

 given. 



