22 4 PLANT AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 
of sugar or sucrose would need a happy choice of location, 
successful cultivation, and wise selection of the best seeds. 
2. After cutting the cane, to counteract the instability which 
inverts the sucrose into non-crystallizable sugar before it is 
subjected to any process of extraction. 
3. To determine the most favorable mechanical and chemi¬ 
cal processes for obtaining the largest production of dry sugar 
from this juice. 
4. To utilize profitably the by-products. 
I stated a few weeks since: 1 “It seems to me that the re¬ 
finements of plant analysis are destined to play an important 
part in this connection. Chemical analysis of chosen seeds 
would insure a wise selection for planting. Analysis of the 
cane and juice would show the results of experimental culture. 
For experiment, the proportional constituents of the soil may 
be varied, to determine if the proportion of chemical constitu¬ 
ents of the cane, detrimental or favorable to the production 
of a richer juice, may be controlled. 
“Analysis would show what external chemical conditions 
are requisite to insure a vigorous growth; and if upon this 
depends a larger sugar yield, series of experiments, at different 
stages of growth, undertaken to discover the chemical processes 
attending growth, maturing, and ripening of the canes, under 
experimental conditions, are necessary to be known by the 
chemical representative of the producer. 
“Plant chemistry, in applying this knowledge to practical 
agricultural ends, will fulfill a high aim. It may be suggested, 
as a w T orthy object of agricultural experiment, to discover what 
parts of the residual sorghum and cane, after the sugar ex¬ 
traction, may serve a practical end.” 
Among the most successful experiments on sorghum, have 
been those conducted in Italy, a report of which is made by 
the Italian Minister of Agriculture. 2 The sorghum plants 
seem to thrive there better than in this country, and the per¬ 
centage of sugar from the canes reached as high as twentv- 
1 “Plant Analysis as an Applied Science.” Lecture before the Franklin 
Institute, Philadelphia, Jan. 17th, 1887. Seep. 175. 
2 Annali di Agricultura. 
