126 



Following are the means of the results : 



In juice. 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 10.62 



Glucose 1.78 



Total solids 14.38 



Purity co-efficient 73.8 



COMPOSITION OF DIFFUSION JUICES FROM ABOVE CANES. 



The samples were taken by withdrawing a measured quantity from 

 each of the twelve cells and thoroughly mixing. Six sets of analyses 

 were made. 



Following are the means : 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 7. 16 



Glucose 1/23 



Total solids 9.86 



Purity 72.6 



In this connection it must be remembered, too, that the mean temper- 

 ature used in the diffusion of sorghum chips was 70 C., while for sugar- 

 cane the diffusion took place at 90. Therefore, a much greater inver- 

 sion would be expected with the former than with the latter. 



In point of fact, it has been clearly established that the sucrose in 

 ripe and fresh sorghum canes undergoes no appreciable inversion dur- 

 ing the process of diffusion at 70, if that process is not delayed by 

 faulty machinery or accidents. When inversion in the battery does take 

 place, it is due to the fact that chips are used which are not in a fit state 

 for sugar making, or by reason of some delay in the process. 



Without discussing further the details of the experiments with sugar- 

 cane, I desire to call your attention to the following points : 



(L) Sorghum-canes manufactured at Fort Scott in 1886 gave a yield 

 of 21. G pounds sugar per ton. 



(2) Louisiana sugar-cane, manufactured at the same place, by iden- 

 tically the same processes, and under identical conditions, save that the 

 temperature in diffusion was 20 higher, gave 144 pounds sugar per ton. 



The sorghum-cane, therefore, grown at Fort Scott was nearly seven 

 times less valuable for sugar making than the sugar-cane. I am fully 

 convinced of the fact, however, that had the machinery at Fort Scott 

 iu 1886 been perfect, so that the sorghum could have been promptly 

 worked at maturity, the quantity of sugar it made would have been 

 greatly increased. This fact I have emphasized in Bulletin No. 14. 



It will be of interest in closing this brief review of our present knowl- 

 edge concerning sorghum and sugar cane, to add to the summary given 

 the results of the final experiments recorded in Bulletin No. 17. In the 

 summary of the data for Louisiana this has already been done. 



