69 



The chief points of interest in this comparison are the increase in sucrose, the de- 

 crease in reducing sugars, and the increase in albuminoids. It is difficult to explain 

 why the same varieties of cane grown in the same locality, with the same kind of 

 culture and fertilizing, and in seasons not markedly different, should yield juice 

 of such different composition. Sorghum is one of the most capricious of plants, and 

 the above comparison brings some of its moods into strong contrast. 



During the season of 1884 the Department made an extensive series 

 of analyses at Helena, Wis. 1 



The variety of cane was Early Amber, and it was grown in a light, 

 sandy soil without fertilizers. I visited the plantation during the prog- 

 ress of the work. The cane, though small, looked well and was mostly 

 ripe. 



Following are the means of the analyses for the whole season : 2 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 7.85 



Glucose 5.00 



The proprietors of the plantation, Messrs. Williams & Flynn, even 

 after the discouraging results of the above analyses, were not without 

 hope that sugar-making could be profitably undertaken in Wisconsin. 

 To this opinion I was not able to subscribe, as will be seen from the 

 following quotation : 3 



In spite of the conviction of Messrs. Williams & Flynn that sorghum sugar can be 

 made profitably in Wisconsin, I am far from being convinced of the justness of that 

 expectation, unless, indeed, it be in some small way. In view of the disasters that 

 have overtaken attempts at sorghum-sugar making further south I think it would be 

 unwise to encourage like enterprises in regions where at best not more than four weeks 

 of an average milling season can be expected. 



In 1885 additional analyses were made of sorghum grown near Ottawa, 

 Kans. 4 



The juices from the two mills used in grinding the cane were collected 

 in a common tank and the samples for analysis taken from time to time 

 from this tank. These samples, therefore, represent the mean constitu- 

 tion of the juice from several thousand tons of cane. The samples were 

 taken from September 9 to October 14, inclusive : 



Means of the analyses. 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 9.23 



Glucose 3. 04 



Not sugar 2. 87 



Total solids 15.07 



ANALYSES OF CANES USED IN DIFFUSION. 



During the progress of the diffusion experiments at Ottawa, Kans., 

 October 8, 1885, three samples of cane were taken at different times 



1 Op. cit., pp. 151, et 8tq. 



2 Op. cit., p. 154. 



3 Op. cit., p. 15G. 



'Department of Agriculture, Division of Chemistry, Bull. No. 6, 1885. 



