114 



Again, in speaking of the necessity of systematic field experiments 

 iuseciiring a sorghum suitable for sugar making, I said : l 



Such a series of experiiueuts carried oil under imiform conditions over the whole 

 country would do more in five years to determine these great agricultural problems 

 than fifty years of spasmodic and disjointed work could accomplish. 



Much of the success of the beet-sugar industry of Europe has been due to a wise 

 selection and improvement of the seed, by which the sugar contents of the beet, in 

 some instances, has been nearly doubled. There is no reason to doubt that, a similar 

 improvement (but not, perhaps, to the same extent) could be made iu Northern cane. 

 Such an improvement station could be established at small cost ; but. to be effective, 

 must be continued through, series of years. The seed of those canes showing the 

 highest sugar content should be planted and the selection continued until a maximum 

 of sugar is obtained. If in this way a variety of cane could be produced which 

 would give an average result in analyses of only 2 per cent, uncrystallizable sugar 

 and 10 per cent, of sucrose, it would prove of the greatest value to the country. 



In another place, referring to the lessons which were taught by the 

 Fort Scott experiments, I said: 8 



The chief thing to be accomplished is the production of a sorghum plant containing 

 a reasonably constant percentage of cry stalliz able sugar. 



Recently in a public address I said : 3 



It is easily seen from the foregoing figures that in four years I have never found a 

 large field of sorghum, judged by the juice obtained, which was rich enough to make 

 sugar economically. 



On the other hand, intensive culture, like that given to a garden, has produced 

 sorghum which, with the improved processes which have been introduced, would 

 easily make 150 pounds of sugar per ton. 



The sorghum enthusiast has been abroad in the land, and, in his wake, has closely 

 followed the crank. Fairy tales of the richness of sorghum have been told every- 

 where, and have often obtained credence. Fictions of the imagination, and often, 1 

 am sorry to say, fictions without any imagination, have portrayed the glowing future 

 of sorghum-- a future full of triumph and glory. Sorghum has been extolled as the 

 one great savior of the country, furnishing alike its bread, its sweets, its meats, and 

 its drinks. 



The hope for sorghum is not in now methods and new machinery ; it is in the skill 

 and patience of the agronomist. 



Wise selection of seed, intensive culture, judicious fertilization these are the fac- 

 tors that can make the sorghum sufficiently saccharifacieut. 



Still more recently, having collected various data concerning tbe in- 

 stability of sugar in sorghum, I presented them to the Indiana Acad- 

 emy of Sciences, 



From this paper I make the following quotations: 4 



ON THE CAUSES OF THE VARIATIONS IN THE CONTENTS OF SUCROSE IN SORGHUM SAC- 



CHARATUM. 



For some years I have been investigating the Sorghum saccharatuui in respect of its 

 adaptability to the production of sugar. 



During this time many difficulties have been encountered, and these troubles have 

 all been overcome with one exception. The chief obstacles to successful sugar-mak- 



1 Department of Agriculture, Report 1883, pp. 443, 444. 



2 Department of Agriculture, Division of Chemistry, Bull. 14, p. 42, 

 'Bulletin No. 2, Chemical Society of Washington, pp. 28, 29, 



* Botanical Gazette, Vol. XII, No. 3, pp. 54 ct, aey. 



