90 



partment of Agriculture in 1&78, in the production ot sugar from sor- 

 ghum and maize stalks. 1 

 Dr. Collier says of these experiments : 2 



The point which these experiments have fully settled is, that there exists no diffi- 

 culty in making from either corn or sorghum a first-rate quality of sugar, which will 

 compare favorably with the best product from sugar-cane grown in the most favor- 

 able localities. 



The experiments here given clearly indicate the probability that sugar may be 

 thus made at a profit, and it is desirable that nothing be spared in continuing an in- 

 vestigation giving such fair promise of success. 



The experiments in the production of sugar were continued by the 

 Department of Agriculture in 1879. 3 The sugar was not separated 

 from the molasses except in one case, but the percentage of sucrose 

 in the melada is given. 



The melada from Chinese sorghum gave 54.7 per cent, sugar. 4 Some 

 of the analyses seem to show a loss of glucose, and in one instance this 

 loss is given at 144.5 per cent. 5 



On this point Dr. Collier says : 6 



The presence of the same relative proportions of crystallizable and uncrystallizable 

 sugar in a sirup to those present in the juice from which this sirup has been prepared 

 by no means implies that there has been no inversion of the crystallizable sugar ; for 

 the destructive action of an excess of lime upon glucose is well known and is not un- 

 frequently made available in the production of sugar. Hence, it not unfrequently 

 happens that the relative quantity of crystallizablo sugar in the sirup may be greatly 

 in excess of that present in the juice, even after a large quantity of the crystalliza- 

 ble sugar has been destroyed by inversion. 



He adds: 7 



There is no doubt but that when the present industry shall have secured the em- 

 ployment of the capital and scientific ability which has developed the beet-sugar in- 

 dustry, even these results, which may appear extravagant to many, will be assured. 



EXPERIMENTS AT THE ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY, CHAM- 

 PAIGN, IN 1880. 



These experiments were all directed by Professors Weber and Sco- 

 vell. They undertook a series of experiments to determine the possi- 

 bilities of manufacturing sugar from sorghum. 8 Twelve experiments 

 with amber and orange cane were made from September 17 to Octo- 

 ber 2. 



In experiment No. 5 the sugar obtained, calculated to 1 acre, amounted 

 to 710.67 pounds. 



Agricultural Report, 1878, pp. 98 et seq. 

 Z 0p. cit., p. 99. 



3 Agricultural Report, 1879, p. 53. 



4 Op. cit., p. 56. 



5 Op. cit., p. 61. 



6 Op. cit., p. 60. 



7 Op. cit., p. 56. 



Transactions Department of Agriculture, Illinois, 1880, pp. 428 et. seq. 



