230 PLANT AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 
it was shown at Rio Grande that the juice from clean cane 
can be worked without purification. 
“Last of all, the chief thing to be accomplished is the pro¬ 
duction of a sorghum plant containing a reasonably constant 
percentage of crystallizable sugar.” 1 
The above statement appears to be where the sorghum 
industry rests for a solution of the problem. 
“The universal experience of practical manufacturers 
shows that the average constitution of the sorghum cane is far 
inferior to that indicated in many of the tables of analyses.” 2 
“Taking the means of several seasons as a sure basis of com¬ 
putation, it can now be said that the juices of the sorghum 
as they come from the mill do not contain over io per cent, 
of sucrose; whilst the percentage of other solids in solution 
is at least 4. It is needless to say to a practical sugar-maker 
that the working of such a juice is one of extreme difficulty, 
and the output of sugar is necessarily small. 3 
“It is true the present outlook is discouraging; but dis¬ 
couragement is not defeat. The time has now come for solid, 
energetic work. Science and practice must join improved 
agriculture, and all together can accomplish what neither 
alone would ever be able to achieve.” 4 
The beet-sugar factory at Alvarado makes money with a 
competition of free cane sugar imported from the Hawaiian 
Islands under the one-sided reciprocity treaty now in force. 
As this is so, there seems to be no reason why sorghum 
should not compete with other sugars when its physiology and 
chemistry have become better known. 
Compelled now to accept the fact that there is no sound 
scientific expectation for the immediate success financially 
of the production of sugar from sorghum, we are only the more 
compelled to mark the present difficulties, and point out, as 
I have done, the lines of research that will finally enable the 
problem of an indigenous sugar supply to be safely solved. 
1 Bui. No. 14, Chem. Div. Dept, of Agr.„ p. 42. 
2 Bui. No. 5, Chem. Div. Dept, of Agr., 1885. 
3 Ibid., p. 185. 
4 Ibid., p. 187. 
