124 

 Prom these analyses he draws the following conclusions : 



The average of the above (including two hundred and two analyses of sugar-cane 

 juices grown on different plantations and in different years, and of three hundred and 

 thirty-one analyses of many varieties of sorghum juices also grown in different years) 

 gives for each ton of sugar cane 225 pounds total sugar, of which 179 pounds are the- 

 oretically available, and for each ton of sorghum cane a total of 261 pounds of sugar, 

 of which 199 pounds are available. 



In respect of the quality of the crop of sorghum at Fort Scott the same 

 writer in the Journal of Commerce of the date mentioned, after quoting 

 the results of a single analysis, makes the following observations : 



Now, the above shows in each ton of cane 238i pounds total sugar, of which 169 

 pounds were available. 



Such was the average crop of cane according to the very best, and indeed the only 

 method by which its value could be ascertained. 



It is thus seen that it has been claimed that the sorghum crop at 

 Fort Scott was not only equal to Louisiana cane, but, in fact, far supe- 

 rior to it in its sugar-making qualities. 



The same authority says : l 



'The next question which arises is most naturally this: Granting that this sugar 

 is found in the crop of cane, can it be recovered by processes similar to those em- 

 ployed on the sugar-cane plantations of the South or the best sugar factories of Eu- 

 rope ? I reply with a decided yes to this most important practical question. 



In the light of these statements the value of the actual comparison 

 is greatly increased. 



ABSTRACT OF EXPERIMENTS WITH SORGHUM AT FORT SCOTT. KANS., 



IN 188G. 2 



Mean composition of juices, seventy analyses, expressed from small 

 quantities of sorghum canes during the entire season : 3 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 9.34 



Glucose , 4.10 



Total solids 16.94 



Purity co-efficient , 55. 14 



The small samples of cane above mentioned were taken in such a way 

 as to represent as nearly as possible the general character of cane en- 

 tering the mill. It is idle to claim, however, that in nearly 3,000 tons 

 of cane, varying in such a marked manner as has already been set forth, 

 such a selection of samples could accurately represent the whole. They 

 might give results better or worse than the average. Which of these 

 was the case with the above samples will appear by studying closely 

 the following data : 



SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM CHIPS ENTERING EACH CELL AND AFTER 

 MIXING PASSED THROUGH SMALL MILL. 



Such samples represent much more accurately than those just stud- 

 ied the average composition of the canes entering into manufacture. 



J Chicago Journal of Commerce, November 17, 188(5. 



2 Department of Agriculture, Div. of Chemistry, Bull. No. 14. 



3 Op. tit., pp. 14, 15. 



