New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-02
SUGAR FROM SORGHUM.
A LETTER FROM PROFESSOR sILLIMAN.

DISCOVERED
DR.. L. G. RICHARDSON. Nec-Orlcans, La.
My DEAR FRIEND: 1t is with great regret that
have noticed in the kilograms from Louisiana,
within day or two reports of the widespread IN
iury in some cases the destruction, of the sugar
cane over considerable areas in your state Dy the
disastrous floods which have wrought ruin In 80
many ways in the Valley of the Mississippi. IL
gives me much pleasure to be able to offer to your
planters as the result of recent Investigations some
considerations and suggestions, which l am per-
suaded will be found of value in alleyiating the
present calamity and possibly in avoiding it here
after AS time is of the utmost moment. make no
apology for giving this communication the form OF
an open letter.
During the past three or four years the sugar
producing capacity of the Chinese sugar cane, so
called and more Familiarity known as Sorghum, has
been the subject of the most careful and palnstak-
ing experimental investigations at the department.
of Agriculture III Washington, under the direction
of Dr. Peter Collier, the chemist OF that Depart
ment His published results for the years 1878, 70
and 80 have been widely distributed in the various
reports Of the Agricultural Department. Those for
for 1881 exist at present only in MSS and, together
with the important points already set forth III former
reports, have not yet had the careful consideration
by farmers and planters which the Importance OF the
subject demands. am able to speak on this sub
iect with some authority because it has been my
duty as chairman of committee OF the National
Academy of Sciences appointed last year to in
vestigate the methods and results obtained by Dr.
Collier, to make careful study of the whole
pround. The report Of that committee has been
rendered but will not be published for
some time certainly not in season to be
of use to Your planters in this emergency, and can
without violating confidence communicate such
data and conclusions important to the right under
standing of this subject as may perhaps enable them
to secure crop this season. whenever there IS land
open to immediate use for the growth of sorghum
To come right down to business, without circumo-
cntIon, think may safely say that your planters
can secure crop from the seed OF say hall dozen
sorts of sorghum which will fully mature In periods
of from three months to six months from date OF
sowing. and which will produce from one to two
hogsheads of good &C" sugar, polarzing 96 per
cent, and which cannot be told from the best KID
bon or other cane sugar of the same grade. ms
they can do with no other treatment than they now
employ in working the old stands OF cane,
and with a longer working period the juices
will read at least 10 0 b. equal to 1919
specific gravity and will polarize good
II per cent to 10 per cent, which IS, If L am
correctly informed, fully as we'll the Louisiana
planters now do. This juice they can defecate with
lime and treat with sulphur fumes or sulphnrons
acid and reduce i'll pans as usual OF IN open
trains Let us support these rather broad asser-
tions by more specific statements.
will cite the Early Amber Cane" which ma
lures in ninety days. reaching IT'S perfect condition
in the latitude of Washington by the mid lie OF Sep
tember and maintaining working period of two
months or until severe frosts 1t makes fully per
cent of available sugar. latter deductng about LIZ
per cent of glucose and 3 per cent OF solids not
SUGAR. and has produced over wide areas or the
West 10 to 20 tons of canes per acre, yielding l4O
Gallons of mice per ton and of welgrained sugars
from 80 to 100 pounds per ton of stalks and from
20 to % gallons of syrup Of excellent quality,
weighing from II to 11l2 pounds per gallon. his
NAV be considered the leading variety of the early
maturing sorts of sorghum. The yield of seed IS
from 20 TO 80 bushels per acre, an excellent grain
for stock or hogs worth in the North from 80 cents
to 70 cents per bushel.
The Early Orange" natures in about four
months say III days. from seed it has an average
exponent of sugar of 72l2 per cent, or an average
available cane sugar product of 93l per cent 1t is
GOOD here for about two thousand pounds per acre
of excellent &C sugar. The largest grain have
seen in any sugar. sorghum or cane, was made last
wear from this variety of sorghum by A. Folger, OF
Washington, Iowa, a sample of which is before me
AS write AS respects this variety of cane the tes-
timony of Colonel Henry b. Richards. OF La Grange
Fayette County, Texas is very important. He says
in a letter dated April g. 1882: LET me tell You
about my Orange Cane. 1t is no longer doubtful at
all but that the Orange Cane will become, in this
climate, perennial. have tested it now for two
wears and am convinced that the stubbles will stand
colder weather and more of it than those of the RIB
hon cane Nv cane from last years stubbles has
larger stalks is taller and in every respect ahead
of the earliest seed cane at this time" This Is the
first authentic testimony have of any
Of the sorghum bearing perennial and 1t Is or great
importance. The very remarkable Elasticity OF this
species places ii i'll the very first rank OF variability
and gives the best possible reasons for believing
that new and superior varieties better adapted than
any now known will be evolved by our American
experience. 1t is remarkable how much has been
accomplished in this way already. The Oranges
have a working period here of seventy-nine days.
There are half dozen varieties of sorghum Of
from five to six months in maturing, which are sub
santially alike, requiring 80 to 40 days from the
seed to full maturity, and giving in this latitude
from twenty to sixty days working periods but III
your latitude and that of Texas atording probably
ninety days working period. These are honduras
II oney-Top, Sprange-fop, Texas Cane NiaInno 1I
etc. Al these have been grown here. put are very
little suited to this latitude. In yonr LOUISIANA II
gIon they will work in perfectly well WIN the carry
maturing varieties and keep your Inllls D"nf o
in%C neriod of time. producing from 1000 TO 5000
hounds of sugar Even in Kansas last year thirty
seven and half tons of Honduras were matured on
an acre as appears from testimony III my han9s III
your soil and climate such yield WI II probably be
general In respect of sugar. producing ca
pacity we really know less of the nature OF
these long maturing varieties than we do
of the kinds like theeary amber which
are better suited to our latitude. But with you
fully anticipate that results will be attained winch
will exceed even those already obtained IN Kansas
will not weary you with too many details. OF
which the number held in reserve ~ very great.
But will add few points OF tho greatest I'M
DO lance TO be known as essential to success III OBJ
tanning cane sugar from sorghum. .
FirsEThe plant should be fully ripe before roll
L. hn