28 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



7. Likewise the grain of the sorghum furnishes a good food for 

 cattle. 



They found also, from further observations, that the percentage of 

 sugar was somewhat higher than we have ever been fortunate enough 

 to see. The results are presented in detail in my special report, 

 together with such information from parts of our own country not 

 already mentioned as were attainable under reliable circumstances. 



LOSS OF SUGAR IN BAGASSE. 



The loss of sugar in the bagasse through the unavoidable imperfec- 

 tions of milling have been already alluded to. It amounts to at least 

 25 per cent, and is often more. For sorghum cane the following exact 

 data are at hand : 



A mean of fifteen experiments, made in 1882, with single milling, gave 

 65 per cent, of juice from stripped cane. In nearly 300 tons of uu- 

 stripped Amber canes ground during the season of 1883 at Washing- 

 ton, the weight of the expressed juice was 41.7 per cent, that of the 

 cane. 



In 18 tons of unshipped Amber canes ground during the past season 

 at West Point, Ind., the weight of the juice was found to be 50 per cent, 

 that of the cane. 



In over 6,000 tons of Amber and Orange canes ground at Rio Grande, 

 JST- during the campaign of 18S3, the percentage of juice expressed 

 (double milling) varied from 40 to 55. At Champaign, 111., 4,600 tons 

 (half stripped) gave a yield of about 60 per cent, juice. Double milling 

 was employed. 



After a careful study of the data which have been accumulated, it is 

 probable that not less than 40 per cent, of the total sugar present in the 

 cane is lost in the bagasse. This is a waste far greater than true 

 economy can permit, and in the following pages an attempt will be 

 made to show the relation of the cane to" juice extraction and to the 

 process of diffusion. 



The quantity of water contained in sorghum cane varies with the char- 

 acter of the cane and the kind of season in which it is grown. The 

 results of experiments with Link's Hybrid cane will be given. This 

 cane contained nearly 10 per cent, sucrose in its juice. To determine 

 the water, the canes are cut into diagonal slices one-eighth inch thick. 

 These are then placed in a thin layer in a copper chamber heated by 

 steam to a uniform temperature of 100° O. (212° F.). After about four- 

 teen to eighteen hours the chips sutler no further material loss of weight. 

 They are then removed and their weight taken. Following are the 

 results: 



DRIED FOURTEEN HOURS AT 100°. Moisture. 



No.l ..i 76.33 



No. 2 76.06 



No. 3 76. 31 



No. 4 76. 66 



No. 5 78, IS 



No. 6 78, 38 



No. 7 77. 94 



No. 8 78. 05 



DRIED SEVENTEEN HOURS AT 100°. 



No. 9 77. 62 



No. 10 77. 64 



No. 11 77. 21 



