SUGAR PLANTS. 261 



AssumiDg a favorable climate some of the difficul- 

 ties have been : 



1. A rather small yield of cane. The yield of 

 cane has varied tinder normal conditions from about 

 five to ten tons of clean cane per acre. 



2. A low average percentage of sugar in the cane. 

 The percentage of sugar is much more variable than 

 in sugar cane or beets. The other solids are higher, 

 thus making the per cent of available sugar still less. 

 The total per cent of sugar in the juice of sorghum 

 manufactured commercially has probably been consid- 

 erably under ten per cent. 



3. The rapid deterioration of the sugar in the sor- 

 ghum from unknown causes usually considered cli- 

 matic or from improper handling. Sugar cane may 

 lie some weeks before it is used ; beets may be stored 

 for months; sorghum must be used at once. 



4. Imperfect methods of extracting the juice. 



5. Improper treatment of the extracted juice. 



All these difficulties must be overcome before the 

 manufacture of sorghum sugar can be a success. In 

 the nature of the case the first three items are the 

 most serious. ' The United States Department of Ag- 

 riculture is still faithfully studying the subject. 



Varieties. — Other things equal early maturing 

 varieties are best. Later maturing varieties may be 

 planted to produce a succession of cane. Early Am- 

 ber and the Oranges under different prefixes have 

 probably been grown as extensively as any other vari- 

 eties. The former is probably the best early matur- 

 ing variety grown. Link's hybrid is another well 

 known late variety. The variety to plant will depend 



