50 



THE FUTURE OF THE SORGHUM-SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



The sorghuin-sugar industry now seems to have an assured future. 

 The quantities of sugar and molasses, and other valuable products ob- 

 tained from each ton of the cane and from each acre of laud, well re- 

 munerate the farmer for his crop and the manufacturer for his invest- 

 ment and the labor and skill required to operate the factory. 



An acre ot land cultivated in sorghum yields a greater tonnage of 

 valuable products than in any other crop, with the possible exception 

 of hay. Under ordinary methods of cultivation, 10 tons of cleaned cane 

 per acre is somewhat above the average, but the larger varieties often 

 exceed 12, while the small Early Amber sometimes goes below 8 tons 

 per acre. Let 7 tons of cleaned cane per acre be assumed. for the il- 

 lustration. This corresponds to a gross yield of 10 tons for the farmer, 

 and at $2 per ton gives him $20 per acre for his crop. These 7 tons 

 of clean cane will yield 



Pounds. 



Sugar 750 



Molasses , 1,000 



Seed 900 



Fodder (green leaves) - 1 , 500 



Exhausted chips (dried ) 1 , 500 



Total 5, 650 



The first three items, which are as likely to be transported as wheat 

 or corn, aggregate 2,050 pounds per acre. 



Sorghum will yield 7J tons of cleaned cane per acre more surely than 

 corn will yield 30 bushels, or wheat 15 bushels per acre. 



In the comparison, then, of products which bear transportation, these 

 crops stand as follows : 



(Sorghum, at 7 tons, 2,650 pounds per acre. 



Corn, at 30 bushels, 1,C80 pounds per acre. 



Wheat, at 15 bushels, 900 pounds per acre. 



The sugar from the sorghum is worth say 5 cents per pound ; the 

 molasses, 1J cents per pound ; the seed, J cent per pound. 



The products give market values as follows : 



750 pounds sugar at say 5 cents* $37. 50 



1,000 pounds molasses at say If cents* 17. 50 



900 pounds seed at say -i cent* 4.50 



Total value of sorghum, less fodder 55. 50 



The corn crop gives 1,680 pounds, at cent 8. 40 



The wheat crop gives-900 pounds, at 1 cent 9, 00 



Thus it will be seen that the sorghum yields to the farmer more than 

 twice as much per acre as either of the leading cereals, and as a gross 



* The sugar sold this year at 5| cents per pound, the molasses at 20 cents per gallon, 

 and the seed at per bushel of 56 pounds. The seed is of about equal value with 

 corn for feeding stock. 



