422 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Neeazana yields a good quality of syrup of light color, but is said to have deteriorated in the 

 extreme South. The Oomseeana is a fine variety, and in some sections is given the pref 

 erence. It produces more sugar in proportion than syrup, while the varieties previously 

 mentioned produce a larger proportion of syrup than sugar. The sorgo matures about two 

 weeks earlier than the imphees, but the latter require cutting when in a greener state than 

 the former, so that the harvesting season is about the same for each. 



The color of the Oomseeana seed when fully matured is a dark brown; that of the Libe- 

 rian a deep red, while the Neeazana is of a light cream or wood color. The seed of the 

 Chinese cane or sorgo, when fully ripe, is of a dark purple, or black color; that of the Early 

 Amber is also dark. 



The Chinese cane grows to the height of from twelve to sixteen feet or more. The 

 stalks are more slender than those of corn, and not so thick as those of the imphee. The 

 time required for the perfect development of the plant varies with the climate, soil, and sea 

 son, but averages generally, with favoring conditions, about five months. The Early Amber 

 presents, in general appearance, some of the characteristics of both the sorghum and imphee. 

 This variety receives its name from the early ripening of its seeds and the bright amber color 

 of the syrup made from it. This is one of the most popular kinds cultivated. It grows 

 to the height of the Chinese variety, but is thought to be richer in sugar production than the 

 latter. 



There are many varieties of sorghum which are cultivated to a certain extent, all more 

 or less valuable. The chemical division of the Agricultural Department has recently made 

 numerous analyses of sorghum, embracing nearly forty varieties, with a view of determining 

 the period at which the juice of each particular variety contained the most crystallizable 

 sugar that could profitably be separated. For this purpose, the analyses were begun at an 

 early stage of the growth of the plant, and were repeated from time to time till later in the 

 autumn, which afforded the best possible opportunity of ascertaining the comparative value 

 of each variety, the practicability of sugar production from sorghum, aside from the actual 

 separation of the crystallized sugar itself in manufacturing it, and also the time when the 

 plant yields the greatest amount of cane-sugar. 



These analyses extended over a period of time from July to November, showing the 

 amount, not only of sugar contained in each variety, but of glucose at the same time. It was 

 found that after the middle of August, the Early Amber, when properly managed, will make 

 as much crystallizable sugar as any of the tropical cane. The full amount of sucrose was 

 reached early in August, and continued without much variation until the middle of October. 

 The glucose in this variety was found to be greatest early in July, diminishing rapidly until 

 the first of August, and slightly after this period, the amount of glucose diminishing as that 

 of sucrose increased. The White Liberian variety reached its full amount of sugar-produc 

 tion by the middle of August, and continued until November. Among the later varieties, 

 some produced only about one-half or two-thirds of their full amount of sucrose by the middle 

 of August, their full development not being reached until the middle of October. 



From the above facts, it is apparent that in the Northern section adapted to the culture 

 of sorghum, the advantages gained in growing the Early Amber are in its early maturity, 

 and the long period during which the manufacture of the sugar and syrup may be continued. 

 These analyses proved that the amount of sugar afforded by the different varieties did not 

 vary largely, being from twelve to fifteen per cent, of the juice. The superior value of the 

 different kinds consists, therefore, mainly in the amount or weight of cane that can be pro 

 duced on an acre, and their adaptation, with respect to the period of ripening, to the latitude 

 in which they are to be grown. Some of the late varieties may be admirably suited to the 

 South, but the earlier ones are to be recommended for Northern cultivation. 



With respect, then, to the value of the different canes, other conditions being equal, 



