224 PLANT AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 



of sugar or sucrose would need a happy choice of location, 

 successful cultivation, and wise selection of the best seeds. 



2. After cutting the cane, to counteract the instability which 

 inverts the sucrose into non-crystallizable sugar before it is 

 subjected to any process of extraction. 



3. To determine the most favorable mechanical and chemi- 

 cal processes for obtaining the largest production of dry sugar 

 from this juice. 



4. To utilize profitably the by-products. 



I stated a few weeks since: * "It seems to me that the re- 

 finements of plant analysis are destined to play an important 

 part in this connection. Chemical analysis of chosen seeds 

 would insure a wise selection for planting. Analysis of the 

 cane and juice would show the results of experimental culture. 

 For experiment, the proportional constituents of the soil may 

 be varied, to determine if the proportion of chemical constitu- 

 ents of the cane, detrimental or favorable to the production 

 of a richer juice, may be controlled. 



"Analysis would show what external chemical conditions 

 are requisite to insure a vigorous growth; and if upon this 

 depends a larger sugar yield, series of experiments, at different 

 stages of growth, undertaken to discover the chemical processes 

 attending growth, maturing, and ripening of the canes, under 

 experimental conditions, are necessary to be known by the 

 chemical representative of the producer. 



"Plant chemistry, in applying this knowledge to practical 

 agricultural ends, will fulfill a high aim. It may be suggested, 

 as a w r orthy object of agricultural experiment, to discover what 

 parts of the residual sorghum and cane, after the sugar ex- 

 traction, may serve a practical end." 



Among the most successful experiments on sorghum, have 

 been those conducted in Italy, a report of which is made by 

 the Italian Minister of Agriculture. 2 The sorghum plants 

 seem to thrive there better than in this country, and the per- 

 centage of sugar from the canes reached as high as twenty- 



1 "Plant Analysis as an Applied Science." Lecture before the Franklin 

 Institute, Philadelphia, Jan. i7th, 1887. Seep. 175. 



2 Annali di Agricultures. 



