SUGAR FROM SORGHUM 
223 
In the report for 1884, on the Northern Sugar Industry, 1 
the chemist in charge summed up the necessary conditions 
for a future success of the sorghum industry. 
1. A careful selection and improvement of the seed with 
a view of increasing the proportions of sucrose. 
2. A definition of geographical limits of successful culture 
and manufacture. 
3. A better method of purifying juices. 
4. A more complete separation of the sugar from the 
canes. 
5. A more complete separation of the sugar from the mo¬ 
lasses. 
6. A systematic utilization of by-products. 
7. A careful nutrition and improvement of the soil. 
Sorghum juice is specially fitted for the manufacture of an 
excellent grade of syrup. There is no danger, should this 
indigenous sugar industry grow to the proportions neces¬ 
sary to supply the people with sugar, that our land would be 
overloaded with an excess of molasses production. By suitable 
methods this molasses might be used for distilling alcohol. 
This would constitute an important part of the profit of the 
sugar house. In France, distilleries are connected with the 
beet-sugar factories. In the case of the alcohol from beets, 
it is not fitted for the manufacture of beverages; and such 
alcohol may be used in the arts. It has been suggested, that 
a similar use be made of the alcohol from sorghum, and that 
it be distilled and sold free of taxation. 2 
It is well known that sorghum has been successfully and 
profitably grown for the production of an excellent syrup. 
But the problem which is now placed before us is to obtain 
a crystallizable sugar from the juice which will compete suc¬ 
cessfully with other sugars in the market. 
The solution of this question will probably depend upon 
advances to be made in plant chemistry. The following lines 
of investigation are suggested: — 
1. To secure the increase and constancy of the percentage 
1 Bui. No. 3, Chem. Div. Dept, of Agr., p. 107. 
2 Ibid., p. 118. 
