On the Composition of Sorghum Sacchamtum. 5 



I have likewise made a complete proximate analysis of the 

 sorghum ; and, with a few modifications, followed the process 

 which will be found described in detail in my Paper on 

 the Composition of Parsnips and Belgian Carrots. (See Journal 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, vol. xiii., part ii.) 



The following table contains the results of the detailed proxi- 

 mate analysis of the sorghum : 



Detailed Proximate Composition of Sorghum Saccharatum on the 23rd of 



August. 



In Natural Dried a 



State. 212. 



Water ... '%; 85'17 



*r Albumen ? . '36 2'42 



\0tlier soluble protein compounds .. .. *90 6'08 



Mucilage, pectin, and digestible fibre .. 6'63 44- 71 



Soluble mineral matters '81 5'46 



f Insoluble protein compounds 1*25 8'48 



Indigestible woody fibre (cellular) .. .. 4'57 30-81 



Insoluble mineral matters .. .. .. -.. '31 2'09 



100-00 100-00 



*Containing nitrogen .. ..' '21 1*71 



(Containing nitrogen * 20 1-35 



Total quantity of nitrogen .. '41 2-76 



It will be seen that the sorghum contained a good deal of 

 nitrogenized matter at the time when the analysis was made, 

 but no sugar whatever. 



The taste of the plants on the 23rd of August was anything 

 but sweet. I did not expect, therefore, to find much sugar, but 

 1 was unprepared to meet with a total absence of sugar. In 

 order to verify this fact, I caused a direct sugar-determination to 

 be made in a fresh and large quantity of the whole plant, but 

 was unable to detect any appreciable quantity of sugar. 



Horses and cattle to whom the plants were given, at first re- 

 fused them altogether, and after some time partook only sparingly 

 of this food. They evidently did not relish it. 



There can be but little doubt that the sorghum was quite 

 unripe by the end of August, and was unfit for feeding pur- 

 poses. 



It is worthy of special notice that the plants contained no sugar 

 at that time. Last summer was unusually hot, but, notwith- 

 standing, the plants were quite unfit for feeding by the end of 

 August. 



Fortunately, the last week in August and the month of Sep- 

 tember were warm ; the plants therefore continued to grow 

 vigorously, and formed perfect stems, which to the taste were 

 very sweet when examined on the 26th of September. 



