(153) 



seasons the juice makes about 8 per cent, of sugar, while in 

 ^ry seasons it reaches from 12 to 14 per cent. 



The best soil for growing sorghum is sandy or gravelly 

 loam, aud the land that makes nothing else will turn out a 

 fair crop of the cane. It is the one crop that is unaffected 

 by droughts; for let the season be as dry as it ever becomes 

 in this country, the cane grows sufficiently large to produce 

 a good yield. Cane stripped of its leaves will make from 

 ^7 to 39 per cent, of its weight in juice. . 



An acre of first-class land will make 30 tons per acre, and 

 it varies down to 10 tons with the character of soil and cli- 

 mite, and method of cultivation. The Commissioner of Ag- 

 riculture at Washington caused analyses to be made of every 

 species of cane grown in the United States, and ascertained 

 that the variation in amount of syrup or sugar was so slight 

 that but little attention need be given to the species. He 

 also found out that it makes good syrup and sugar in every 

 stage of its growth, from the milk stage of the seeds to their 

 full ripening, so this peculiarity enables the farmer to begin 

 the process of cutting and boiling down at an early period 

 ■of its growth, which can be continued for at least six weeks 

 after the full ripening of the seeds. He recommends, how^ 

 ever, that it should be boiled down as soon after cutting as 

 possible, as the juice in the ends ferments and some of it is 



thus lost. 



The poorest syrup makes two to three pounds sugar, while 



the best makes nine pounds per gallon. The medium and 



average may safely be put at six and a half poinids per gallon 



of syrup. But there is no loss in it, or not more than two 



per cent., as what is left makes a choice and superior syrup. 



It may be safely said that one gallon of syrup will make 



ninety-eight percent, of sugar and syrup. 



In Minnesota, where the business has already assumed 



large proportions, there are but about two months in which 



to make syrup, while in Tennessee the seasons extend from 



the 1st of August to the 1st, of January. 



