123 



from which the s.-ed has been removed, tin- time necessary from planting to the ma- 

 turity of the crop would be shortened from seven to ten days for each of the varie- 

 ties, if the seed was removed early. 



In 1884 I made a large number of experiments in the study of the 

 effect of topping the canes. 1 



After having compared all the analyses the following conclusions 

 were reached : 2 



The effect of cutting off the young heads in increasing the per cent, of sucrose was 

 not as marked as had heen expected, being a little less than .3 per cent. 



Experiments on a much larger scale were made at Ottawa, Kans., in 

 1885, and these trials confirmed in every respect the results obtained at 

 Washington the preceding years. 



Following are the data : 3 



Means of ten analyses. 



From the above results it is seen that no appreciable increase of su- 

 crose is obtained by topping and suckering the canes. 



Even had experiments shown a notable increase in sucrose in the 

 juices of those canes from which the seed heads had been removed the 

 practical difficulties attending the process would prevent it from ever 

 becoming more than an experimental study. 



I think, therefore, we may at once dismiss all expectations of ever 

 increasing the value of sorghum as a sugar producer by preventing the 

 maturation of the seed. 



THE FORT SCOTT EXPERIMENTS. 



For the first time in the history of sorghum sugar making an oppor- 

 tunity was presented at Fort Scott in 1886 to try under identical con- 

 ditions the relative merits of Louisiana sugar cane and Kansas sorghum 

 as sugar-producing plants. 



The light which this trial has thrown on the vexed problem has served 

 to illuminate many points which were in obscurity. A candid study of 

 the results of the experiments will set at rest all doubts in respect of the 

 relative merits of these two sacchariferous plants. 



In the Chicago Journal of Commerce of July (\. 1S87, Dr. Collier makes 

 a comparison of the analyses of juices of sorghum and sugar canes, 

 which he submits as the teachings of yours of experiment. 



1 Department of Agrinilt uiv, Di v .of ( 'liemisl ry, Hull. No. .">, pp. I :','.> <,,/. 

 '-Op. cil., pp. 144, 145. 

 3 Bull. No. G, p. 16. 



