the farmer has only to give them grain to complete the process of fat- 

 tening. 



MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR FROM SORGHUM. 



When sorghum was first introduced to the people of the United 

 States they were informed it would not only make syrup, but that 

 the Chinese made all their sugar from it. But little attention was 

 given this product of cane however, and the cultivators were con- 

 tent to make it into syrup, as this alone made it of immense value 

 to the country. Still every oue who made syrup observed that oc- 

 casionally it granulated so that it would not pour out of the barrel. 

 In the face of this, writers set it down that the syrup was grape 

 sugar and no treatment would make it granulate. This being ac- 

 cepted, no further effort was attempted to make sugar, and so the 

 cultivation has continutd with that understanding until within the 

 last few years. 



The exception was established by the experiments of a few en- 

 terprising gentlemen who, reporting their success in eliminating 

 sugar from the cane, were encouraged by the Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture, Gen. LeDtic, to extend their experiments until now it ha* 

 been completely proved that it not only makes sugar, but to a de- 

 gree that makes it very profitable. 



This department being desirous of contributing everything in ite 

 power to add to the wealth and resources of the State of Tennessee, 

 has made accurate investigations as to the process of sorghum sugar 

 making in all its details. With this view the Commissioner has 

 lately visited all the States engaged in the business and attended 

 at the experimental works at Washington where the whole process 

 was pointed out. In giving the details to the public the Depart- 

 ment can vouch for the reliability of the statements in so far as the 

 information of trustworthy men will permit. Of course th^re are 

 the differences of climate and soil to be considered, but these will 

 be in favor of the South, as we have decided advantages over the 

 States North in the soil, which gives more saccharine matter, and 

 in the increased time allowed lor working the cane, from the length 

 of our seasons. In this matter the department must acknowledge 

 its obligations to Messrs. G. W. Stockwell and David C. Scales for 

 valuable assistance. Before entering upon a description it may be 

 df interest to say that in a short time one of the most enterprising 



