SUGAR FROM SORGHUM 223 



In the report for 1884, on the Northern Sugar Industry, 1 

 the chemist in charge summed up the necessary conditions 

 for a future success of the sorghum industry. 



1. A careful selection and improvement of the seed with 

 a view of increasing the proportions of sucrose. 



2. A definition of geographical limits of successful culture 

 and manufacture. 



3. A better method of purifying juices. 



4. A more complete separation of the sugar from the 

 canes. 



5. A more complete separation of the sugar from the mo- 

 lasses. 



6. A systematic utilization of by-products. 



7. A careful nutrition and improvement of the soil. 

 Sorghum juice is specially fitted for the manufacture of an 



excellent grade of syrup. There is no danger, should this 

 indigenous sugar industry grow to the proportions neces- 

 sary to supply the people with sugar, that our land would be 

 overloaded with an excess of molasses production. By suitable 

 methods this molasses might be used for distilling alcohol. 

 This would constitute an important part of the profit of the 

 sugar house. In France, distilleries are connected with the 

 beet-sugar factories. In the case of the alcohol from beets, 

 it is not fitted for the manufacture of beverages ; and such 

 alcohol may be used in the arts. It has been suggested, that 

 a similar use be made of the alcohol from sorghum, and that 

 it be distilled and sold free of taxation. 2 



It is well, known that sorghum has been successfully and 

 profitably grown for the production of an excellent syrup. 

 But the problem which is now placed before us is to obtain 

 a crystallizable sugar from the juice which will compete suc- 

 cessfully with other sugars in the market. 



The solution of this question will probably depend upon 

 advances to be made in plant chemistry. The following lines 

 of investigation are suggested : 



i. To secure the increase and constancy of the percentage 



1 Bui. No. 3, Ghent. Div. Dept. of Agr., p. 107. 



2 Ibid., p. 1 1 8. 



