Girzres.— On Sorghum Experiments. : 517 
without knowing the cost of the whole. A very accurate account oí 
the outcome from 12} acres of orange-cane was kept, which stands 
as follows :— 
“ Product. 
“ 9,600 lbs. sugar at 8 cents — .. i as ue .. $768 00 
** 1,450 gallons molasses at 40 cents .. T. ala i 580 00 
.. $1,348 00 
“ Total value of product A 
* Total expense, including cost of cane at $2 50 per ton, 
labour intend fuel 1 l 1 
interest on capital, and wear of machinery ^a e 704 54 
“ Nett profit .. ‘a i4 à A .. $633 46 
“ Profit per acre ES vi be se dk 50 67 
* This crop of twelve and one-half acres of early orange yielded 12} tons 
of cane to the acre, which at $2 50 per ton, paid the grower $31 25 
per acre for the crop. Twelve tons of early orange, and ten of early 
amber, are regarded as a fair crop. These yields are certainly encouraging, 
for they show that Sorghum cane will pay a farmer better than wheat; but 
they are not equal to the product of a well cultivated crop of sugar cane in 
Louisiana. The Champaign Company has paid out of the profits of its first 
year’s business 10 per cent. on the cost of its buildings and machinery, 8 
per cent. on its active capital, and laid aside $9,000 besides; and it is so 
greatly encouraged that it has determined to increase its capital stock from 
$25,000 to $50,000, expend from $8,000 to $10,000 for additional ma- 
chinery, and cultivate 1,000 acres of land in cane next season. 
“The Champaign experiment tends to prove, if it does not actually prove, 
that Sorghum-cane growing and sugar making may be made profitable 
industries in Illinois—not quite as profitable as sugar making from tropical ` 
cane in Louisiana, but still lucrative enough to become a permanent feature 
in western agriculture.” 
| After this I shall cease pitying a northern farmer who complains that he 
cannot make farming pay by raising wheat or potatoes or rearing beef and 
mutton, in all which the southern farmer can beat him, instead of taking 
to Sorghum and other crops more suitable to his soil and climate with which 
the south cannot compete. 
