THE NORTHERN SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



It has been nearly thirty years since the introduction of the sorghum 

 plant into this countr3^ 



Under ordinary conditions this would have been ample time to de- 

 termine whether it could be used with success as a sugar -producing 

 plant. But unfortunately the methods of investigation which have 

 been x^ractised have been disjointed and desultory. 



It is true that a great deal of valuable work has been accomplished. 

 Many investigators have employed their time and patience in solving 

 some of the many problems which envelop and confuse the question. 



I should feel that I had neglected my duty were I to refuse to these 

 able and industrious men due praise for the value and excellence of 

 their work. In spite of all this, however, the interesting fact remains 

 "that after thirty years of work the total amount of sugar made from 

 sorghum cane during the past year was not quite one million pounds." 



The sorghum problem i)resents itself under two distinct heads, viz., 

 scientific and economic. 



To the pure scientist the question is only one of constitution and best 

 method of determining it. To the pure economist, on the other hand, 

 the question is one of finances and the best method of making money 

 out of the investment. 



A fair discussion of the subject must embrace both of these points. 

 But since the work of my division has been purely experimental, this 

 report will deal chiefly with the first. 



The sorghum cane is known in this country under a great variety of 

 names, but.botanically these all belong to the same species. 



Among the hundreds of sugar-producing plants only four are prac- 

 tically employed for sugar production, viz., the maple, the tropical cane, 

 the sugar beet, and sorghum. 



The tropical cane is the richest in sugar of all these. 



The maple and sugar beet are best suited to high temperate latitudes, 

 while the sorghum seems destined to claim the middle temperate zone 

 for its own peculiar field. 



It has, however, certain varieties, like the Amber, which reach matur- 

 ity in a wonderfully short time for a sugar-producing plant. I do not 

 doubt but that by wise and (jareful selection the time required for 

 ripening may be materially shortened. 



It thus appears that the belt of country suitable to sorghum culture 

 may become quite a wide one. It should be remembered, however, that 



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