varieties must be worked, as admitted by all author- 

 ities, within twenty-four hours after cutting. Storage, 

 consequently, becomes impossible. The time of manu- 

 facturing is reduced to comparatively small limits. 



As for the possibilities of growing the sorghum, 

 as many contend, from Texas to Maine, we fail to 

 see the truth of the assertion. Attempts made to 

 grow and utilize it in the ^Southern States were satis- 

 factory, much more so than those in the North. But 

 this, again, proves in a positive manner the fallacy of 

 the supposed Northern sugar cane. We are convinced, 

 however, that with a proper selection of seed, etc., its 

 cultivation may be made compatible with the southern 

 climate, which the- sugar cane is not, as the heat 

 required for its complete maturity is less than for the 

 cane from which it originated. In regard to the sugar 

 cane of the South, we would say that it is obtained from 

 cuttings, and not as in the West Indies from early 

 sprouts that come from the original plant after being 

 once planted. But with the sorghum, on the other 

 hand, the seeds are grown one year, and planted the 

 next. Many argue that two crops may be obtained 

 in a season. If this were practically true, the sor- 

 ghum would be of immense advantage to the Southern 

 sugar planters, but is worthless under all other circum- 

 stances. We have endeavored, in the following pages, 

 to call attention to an acknowledged principle in sugar 

 manufacture that is generally overlooked in the sor- 

 ghum arguments. In conclusion we would say, that 

 syrup may be made from many plants that are sweet, 

 or contain combined with them any amount of sac- 

 charine substances ; but this molasses or syrup does 

 but little towards the supplying of the home demand 

 with sugar. We know of no sorghum sugar being prac- 

 tically made by farmers in larger quantities than per- 

 haps a few ounces at a time, and under remarkable 



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