New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-17

rBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSE.i
WASHINGTON Nov. 16.-Dr. Loripg the United
States Commissioner OF Agriculture has received
from Professor 90 c. Marsh, president Of tho
National Academy Of Sciences report from tho
Academy upon the scientific and economic re-
latious OF the sorghum sugar industry made in
response TO a request presented by him on January
go 1882. The report is very elaborate and Will I'LL
forty closely printed pages Of the forthcoming
annual report of the Department which Will DO
laid before Congress early In the next session. 10
is signed by Professors Brewer. johnson aud SILL
man, of Yale College. Professors Chandler and
Moore, OF New-York. and Professor Smith. late OF
the University of Kentucky. Professor Goessmsn,
of Amherst. Mass, gned his place the COM
mttee on SeDtember r. 1882.
The committee find as the result Of their invests
cation that all the analyses made in the Depart
ment of Agriculture not only confirm the well-
known fact Of the presence OF sugar IN the juices OF
sorghum and maize n notable quantity, but they
also establish the fact that the sorghum yields IN It's
juice, when taken at the proper stage Of Develop
ment, about as much cane sugar as the best sugar
cane Of tropical regions. An examination of tho
analy ytica tables submitted to them shows that the
juices of sorghum in certain exceptional bu: noo
isolated cases we're remarkable for the amOunt Ut
cane sugar they contained. II is ascestained by
these analyses that an average OF them all
there was obtained 5S.57 per cent OF the weight vt
stripped stalks IN Juice. Of the weight Of this
Juice 1915 per cent wIs crystallizabe cane sugar,
and It was learned that 11.3O per cent Of ths
weight Of the Juice may he obtaine1 as sugar By
the ordinary processes of manufacture.
1t also appears that three varieties OF sorghum
gave over IS per cent Of sugar. seven varieties IL
per cent seven IL per cent seven 10 per cent, aud
seven per cent OF sugar; and that OF the varieties
of maize grown in 1850 ten varieties gave over y
per cent cane sugar ten varieties 10 per cent, nine
varieties II per cent nine varieties = per cent,
four varieties l3 per cent, variety per cent,
and one - per cent. The committee state that IN
1850 over 81 600 900 acres of land, - per cent
of all the cultivated land of the Cnlted States
were In maize The amount OF the sugar thus ap-
parenty lost, calculated by the results Obsained
by the Department Of Agriculture In tAe last three
years is equal TO the present product OF the entire
world A remarkable uniformity has been discoys
cred in the several varieties of sorghum ss sugar.
producing plants when fully developed but L has
also been learned that the different yariet!'s vary
widely in the time required for their full develop
meat varying. as has been shown, fully three
months between the earlier and later maturing
varieties.
"No conclusion says the report established by
the work OF the Department Of Agriculture, prac-
the positive ascertainment OF that period in the
devel0pment of the several varieties of sorghum
when the iuices contain the maximum o! cane
sugar On this point there has existed during the
past twenty years or the greatest discrepancy
IN statement, and the general opinion prevailing
has been very wide of the truth as established by
/ all these experiments"
The nvestg cations of the Department prove to
the entire satisfaction OF the committee that after
the cutting of the cane iG should be immediately
worked up" for the production Of sugar. The re-
suits submitted 10 the committee also indicate thas
tue exclusion irom the matured cane OF all imma-
ture cage is of the greatest importance If tho
manufacture of sugar is contemplated, and show
the Importance of even crop with no suckers In
its N man1facture for sugar. The committee also ind
that "prompt working of the so soou as cuo
is always safe, and any delay is frsaght with un-
ayoidable risk Of loss" This conclusion = e5tab-
lished as well by the work of DR.. GOessmau as by
that of the Department of Agriculture. The state
ments submitted by the Department also show
that sugar has been made from sorghum mud corn
stalks 1t will be from the reports Of the
past three years OF the Department of Agriculture,
as well as from wide range OF experience else,
where that sugar in large quantities has been
shown to be present In the juices OF sorghum. and
maize also, which is of the first importance from
! in considerable quantity has been successfully
made from sorghum Juice, comparing fayorsbly
with sugar from the true sugar cane or sugar beet
The committee have also found that the hydro
meter and ripe seed are sufficient TO indicate the
proper time ter working up the crop. lt IS shown,
| moreOyer by the investigation at the DeDartmeno,
that the idea that the effect OF rain would be mani-
fest In the diluted juice and that conversely pro-
longed drOuth would result in concentration
and elimination of tho Juice is utterly unfounded
and incorrect. 1t has been shown that when
fully matured the sorghum stands even hard frosts
| without detrnent hut IL Immature tue effect Is
| most disastrous.
With regard 10 the manufacture of sugar from
sorghum, the experiments of the Departments
have shown that the statement of DR.. Goessman
that in sight of these facts it will he quite gem
erally conceded that the sugar production from
| syrup like the above must remain mere ncIden-
tai feature in the aAber INDUSTRY IN our sec
| tion of the country " is entirely unfounded. and
| that the relative loss of suCrose in the syrup was
cnlv per cent of that present in the juice, instead
| of being AS Dr. Goessman found, 3O.oo per cent;
| aud was no more than usual with sugar cane JUICE
and was no more than usual with sugar cane Juice
"A fact of the utmost importance To the farmer as
| well rs to the manufacturer Win regard TO the
ao-called yum, product oil the manu- dcturc, tno
! committee say tnat in the purgng OF sorghum and
corn stalk sugar it happens very often mat THIS
opsration 10 Of unusual difficulty owing 10 the pres
! ence OF a certain gummy substance, and thus
practical difficulty has been ty some so magnihed
that the economical production OF sugar iron these
| two plants has been confidently declared nnpos-
! sibIe la the experience of those in Washington
as well that OF Inany other obserNeis snis
peculial substance has been found often 10 Ie pres
ent in quantity so small rs 10 sher little II any
resistance TO complete purging IN the ordinary CEN
| trifuga IL appears to he formed by ir1Hsiorins-
ton of other constituents OF the juice IN the process
of syrup production. ,-.,
| The committee recommend still further lnvesti-
c,tion ntc the effect OF fertilizers upon the siowth
| ~ the sorghum and maize. variety OF soil bcse
adante 10 tue production Of sugar ia these plants