PLANT CHEMISTRY, AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE 

 PRODUCTION OF SUGAR FROM SORGHUM 1 



IN its broadest sense, a knowledge of plant chemistry com- 

 prises, at least, a general understanding of botany and physi- 

 ology, as well as of chemistry. It may be compared to a plane 

 bounded by three lines. This simple geometrical figure stands 

 for a triple theorem, from which the life-problem of the plant 

 is to be solved. 



Tables of analytical data are worthless as facts unless they 

 serve for purposes of generalization, or to interpret the physi- 

 ological changes incident to growth and decay. 



All parts of plants are composed of chemical bodies, and 

 are, at some period of the plant's growth, engaged in certain 

 physiological functions. Chemical processes accompany the 

 different stages of development. Daily analyses of the plant, 

 from its seed to maturity, cannot fail to acquaint the student 

 with the order of chemical succession. "Such information 

 is of equal importance to agriculture, materia medica y and 

 scientific botany." 2 



I shall not attempt to discuss the chemical analysis of plants 

 in all its bearings. Its application to many of our great indus- 

 tries may be shown; but I have selected the subject of sugar, 

 from the number, for illustration. 



The sugar interests of our country concern all. Pharmacy 

 needs its quota of sugar, as well for the manufacture of its 

 placebo as for disguising the taste of its bitterest drug; and 

 the sources of this supply are of special interest to the scien- 



1 A lecture delivered before the Alumni Association of the Philadelphia 

 College of Pharmacy, February 8th, 1887. Printed in Proceedings of the Alumni 

 Association; also in pamphlet form, under imprint of Burk and McFetridge, 

 1887. 



2 " Plant Analysis as an Applied Science," see p. 175. 



