New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-26

REGARD to sorghum that have been made by the Agr-
cultural Department, and like many others OF 'he
great discoveries of modern times, II 1t shall come
10 be classed among them, which have revolution
lied trade and changed the customs of the CIVILIZED
world, it is simplicity itself.
If Dr. Golfers conclusions are correct 1t IS now
very e,sv to understand why the cultivation OF
sorghum for the last quarter of a century has ID
few exceptional cases been successful, but gener-
ally attended With failure. Varieties OF the plant
that require long season in which to ripen nave
been planted in the Northern States and The Stalks
have been cut before they were matured. Dr. Col
eI's experiments show that in such instances the
luce of tie cane ought t. contain large percent
age of glucose and a small percentage OF
sucrose, and common experience has proved this
assumption to be correct. On the other hand
variety of sorghum has and then been planted
that was so rapid IN It's growth that ii matured be-
fore the farmer thought OF cutting ialmost before
he knew It-and good crop of sugar has been the
result. But the succeeding year the season would
be little backward. or from some other cause the
cane would rIpen a little later. so that 1t would
then be cut green and the crop would be failure.
The success that has attended the cultivation OF
sorghum in various parts of the country this year.
from seeds distributed from the Agricultural De-
partment has in great measure been accidental
General LIE Due knew that farmers had met with
better success in cutivating early amber sorghum.
and that, ordinarily treated it contained more SUI
than other varieties, and he enthusiastic
ON the subject ofraslng sorghum sugar but doubt
it, at the beginning of the season. he knew why Its
syrup crystalhzed more readily. although he may
have suspected the reason. The explanation. of
course that the early amber rpcns so rapidly that
there is less danger that the farmer will cut it be-
fore it is mature.
Ii NAV be said that DR.. Golfers experiments
have not been carried far enough TO warrant the
conclusions that have been drawn from them; that
1t is dangerous TO generallze and lay down rules
based on the knowledge derived from the cultiya-
ton of only four rows of sorghum one season. and
from analysis of its Juices. This is true. but the ex-
periments made this year actually went further
than this. When the significance of Dr. Golfers
invest cations began to be appreciated by him, IN
stTuctions sent out to many persons VINO had
planted the seeds furnished by the Agricultural
Department, to let their plants thoroughly rpen.
Those who were raising cane near Washington
brought to the Department samples OF Their cane at
different stages of its growth, and when DIR. Collier
decided that the plant ripe it was cut and taken
TO the Department. In every instance Or. Collier
made excellent sugar of the Juice, and IN such guam
titles as to make the sorghum crop an exceptionally
profitable one.
- In addition to this. Mr.. A. j. Russell, of Crystal
Lake, Ill.,. began last Fail the manufacture of sugar
from sorghum raised by farmers in bis neghboT-
hood much OF II from seeds obtained from the Agri
cultural Department. He made AZ, 900 pounds OF
the sugar. winch was of excellent qua ity, and he
sold il in Chicago Tor ten GEMS pound barrel
of il was sent 10 the Commissioner OF Agriculture,
and il has been pronounced by experts who have
examined samples of 1t, TO be iilst-caSs article.
The conclusions Of DR. Collier therefore. have In
measure been sustained by the experience OF
Others.
Many particulars of the process Of manufacturing
sugar from sorghum the cost OF machinery esU-
mates of the probable product of sugr to an acre,
and descriptions of experiments with the Juice OF
corn-stalks must be reserved for another letter
L. L. W.