NORTHERN SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



115 



From one acre producing 10 tons of cane 1,250 pounds of seed can be 

 obtained. 



If this is compared with the average production of wheat and corn, 

 the following table results : 



Average number pounds wheat per acre 720 



Average number pounds corn per acre " 1, 456 



Pounds sorghum seed, at 10 tons per acre 1,250 



It thus appears that the custom of many farmers which allows the 

 seed to rot on the ground is wasteful in the extreme. In the one item 

 of seed alone the sorghum cane possesses a by-product which is more 

 valuable than the by-products of all otht^r sugar-producing plants com- 

 bined. 



THE BLADES. 



The dried blades of sorghum make an excellent fodder. 



The following analysis, taken from the Agricultural Report of 1879, 

 page 57, shows the constitution of sorgum blades after complete dry - 

 ing: 



Analyses of sorghum and sugar-corn blades. 



Varieties. 



Sugar corn 



nonduras sor- 

 ghum. 

 Early Amber 

 sorghum . 



380 

 1428 



3y9 



116. 

 285. 



97.7 



1. 48 

 3. 29 



0. 54 



1. 67 



5. 20 

 6.67 



7.91 



8.21 ! 

 9.37 ; 



8.58 I 



82 



a 



4. 54 i 24. 77 t 11. 34 

 2.78 I 21.22 10.43 



12. 65 

 11. 98 



20. 83 

 18. 51 



14. 49 ! 13. 14 12. 08 ] 17. ' 



10. 44 

 14. 08 



15.49 



The above percentages are all given for the dry blades. 



The blades are generally left on the stalks in working on a large 

 scale, and hence Sbuy value they may have must be looked for in the 

 bagasse or diffusion chips. 



THE BAGASSE AND DIFFUSION CHIPS. 



These still contain nutritive matter, but are mostly cellulose. I 

 doubt whether they could be utilized for feeding purposes. When 

 dried they make excellent fuel, and the bagasse is used in many places 

 for that purpose. 



They also make good bedding for animals, and thus are returned to 

 the soil in the form of a good manure. This utilization, I think, is the 

 most promising from an e conomical point of view. 



Experiments have also been made with them in the manufacture of 

 paper pulp. These have been fairly successful and are deserving of 

 further prosecution. 



