Gillies. — On Sorghum Experiments. 517 



without knowing the cost of the whole. A very accurate account of 

 the outcome from 12* acres of orange-cane was kept, which stands 

 as follows : — 



" Product. 



" 9,600 lbs. sugar at 8 cents $768 00 



" 1,450 gallons molasses at 40 cents 580 00 



" Total value of product $1,348 00 



Total expense, including cost of cane at $2 50 per ton, 

 labour, superintendence, fuel, sugar and molasses barrels, 

 interest on capital, and wear of machinery . . . . 704 54 



" Nett profit $633 46 



" Profit per acre . . . . . . . . . . 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 $3,000 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-came growing and sugar making may be made profitable 

 industries in Illinois — not quite as profitable as sugar making froni 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. 



