OTHER USEFUL PLANTS 81 



I was also able to develop a brush that had 

 improved qualities of firmness and durability, 

 combined with pliable texture. 



The sirup-producing sorghums are chiefly 

 of two very closely related types, which are 

 usually spoken of as Amber and Orange sugar 

 canes. 



Individual plants vary a good deal as to their 

 sugar content and other characteristics. My 

 experiments with the sirup producers have 

 shown that there is a great diversity in the in- 

 dividual plants as to the amount of saccharine 

 substances in their tissues; and that it is pos- 

 sible by careful and systematic selection through 

 successive generations to increase the sugar con- 

 tent, as has been done with the sugar beet, and 

 is being done with the sugar cane. 



This work, however, has not extended beyond 

 the experimental stages, only satisfying myself 

 as to the feasibility of the project; it should be 

 carried to completion by some one working under 

 the auspices of the Government or an agricul- 

 tural society where abundant acreage and intelli- 

 gent help are available. 



The work is important, for the sirup-bearing 

 sorghum is a plant of real value, and there is a 

 great demand for its product. But the work 

 of developing the plant does not offer commer- 



