113 



mean ofsevel-al^e.asons as a sure basis of computation, it can now bo said that the 

 juices of sorghum as they coine from the mill do not contain over 10 per cent, of aA- 

 croso, while fhe percentage of other solids in solution is at least 4. 



Another difficulty with which the industry has had to contend has been found in 

 the crticteiiess and inefficiency of the machinery which has been in use. 



Suc'b^ssful sugar-making depends more on the efficiency of the machinery uaetl tnah 

 aliitest any other kind of manufacturing. It is safe to say that should the sugar-mak- 

 ers of Europe attempt to make beet sugar with machinery as imperfect as that Ueod 

 in the goghum-sugar manufacture the attempt would end in disastrous failure* 



The working of sorghum juices will be found as difficult as those of beets, and trtte 

 success can not be hoped for until the processes used for the one are as complete and 

 scientific as for the other. It is not meant by this that the processes and machinery 

 are to be identical. 



The chemical as well as mechanical treatment of the two kinds of juice will doubt- 

 less differ in many respects. And this leads to the consideration of the third diffi- 

 culty, viz, the chemical treatment of sorghum juice. It has taken nearly three-quar- 

 ters of a century to develop the chemistry of the beet-sugar process, and even now 

 the progress in this direction is great. The chemistry of the sorghum-sugar process 

 is scarcely yet a science. It is only an imitation of what has been done in other fields 

 of work. Sorghum will have to develop a chemistry of its own. This will not be the 

 work of a day or a year, but it will be accomplished sooner or later. 



Careful study of climate and soil, joined with experience, will gradually locate those 

 areas most favorable to the growth of this plant and its manufacture. 



This is an all-important point in the problem, and is now occupying seriously the 

 attention of the thoughtful advocates of the sorghum -sugar industry. One thing is 

 already clear, L e., that the area of successful sorghum culture is not nearly so ex- 

 tensive as it was thought to be a few years ago. I would urge a further investiga- 

 tion in this direction as a work peculiarly within the province of the Department, 

 and one which would prove of immense benefit to the country. Five million acres 

 cof laud suitable to the purpose will produce all the sugar required for this country 

 .for several years to come. It is therefore certain that the sugar industry will be con- 

 lined to the most favorable localities. If a thorough scientific study of all the soil 

 .-and climatic conditions does not point out this region, bitter experience and the loss 

 (of hundreds of millions of dollars will gradually fix its boundaries. Last of all, the 

 ; sorghum industry has suffered from the general depression which has been felt by the 

 .sugar industry of the entire world. Low prices have caused loss where every other 

 (condition has been favorable. It is hardly probable that the price of sugar will rise 

 ; again to its maximum of the years passed. Only war, pestilence, or disaster would 

 produce this effect. It is best, therefore, for the sugar-grower to accept the present 

 price as final, and make his arrangements accordingly. But low prices will produce 

 increased consumption, and thus even with a smaller profit the sugar-grower by in- 

 creased production may find his business reasonably remunerative if not as enriching 

 as before. The sorghum-sugar grower will be injured or benefited with the growers 

 of other kinds of sugar by these economic forces. Hence there should bo no enmity 

 between the grower of the sorghum, the sugar-beet, and the sugar-cane, but all should 

 work in harmony for the general good. 



It is true that the present outlook is discouraging. But discouragement is not de- 

 feat. The time has now come for solid, energetic work. Science and practice must 

 join improved agriculture, and altogether can accomplish what neither alone would 

 ever be able to achieve. It is not wise to promise too much, but this Bureau would 

 fail short of its duty were it either to suppress the discouraging reports of this ia- 

 dustry or fail to recognize the possibility of its success. The future depends on tin- 

 persistence and wisdom of the advocates of sorghum. The problem they have to 

 solve is a most dilh'cult one, but its solution is not impossible, 



23576 Bull 13 6 



