The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-25
SORGHUM CULTURE.

An Interesting Talk with Prof wiIey-New
Processes for Extracting Sugar
Chicago Tribune.
The future OF sorghum is full of prom
Use, said Prof. H. w. Wiley, the newIy-ap-
pointed chief chemist OF the United States
department of Agriculture, to reporter.
You are making some experiments this
season, are you not?" asked the reporter
Yes; we are trying to improve the quality
OF the sugar, and to prevent the waste which
now takes place in its manufacture. The
works at Champaign, ILL.,, have been very
successful, but we think we can do still bet
Ter III these particulars l have Just men,
toned"
What is the nature of your experiments?'
The hrst-the process OF diffuson--will
begin as soon as the cane is ripe enough.
The canes are cut diagonally into pieces an
eighth or sixteenth of an inch in thickness
placed in vessels-we have eleven in our
diffusion battery-and treated with warm
water or steam. The water passes into
one pan and to the other, and by
the time it reaches the eleventh It is
saturated with sugar-stronger than the orig
maj juice of the plant, or nearly So It
doesn't contain quite so much sugar to the
lOO parts as the original Juice, but by the
process of diffusion the sugar has passed
through the non-crystalizable bodies-the
gums, starches etc.-remain behind. The re-
suit is larger percentage of available sugar,
The mills leave from % to so per cent of the
juice in the cane, while the process of diffu-
SION takes 1t all out. In other words, there
is saving by this process of from 20 to 80
per cent. in the amount of sugar obtained
from the plant"
How large a field of sorghum have you in
Washington?'
we have sixty-four acres of cane grow
ing and it is looking very well. We shall be-
gin cutting about Sept. l, and run on for
he No H.. Al
farm experimentally."
What will be the probable yield?''
About ten tons of cane per acre. That
will average about II per cent. of sugar to the
weight OF the cane making about 2,400
pounds OF sugar to the acre"
How does this compare with previous
yieds2"
1t is superior to previous yields in WASH
lngton, and about an average with those on
Western soil In fact 1t is a remarkable
crop. 1 had the ground plowed and SUBJ
soiled in the spring with 400 pounds of super
phosphate per acre, which gave it a splendid
start"
You are now in a position, are you, to
give sorghum-making fair test?'
Our preparations will result in full, fair
test, so that we can rely upon the outcome
from q working point of view We have had
enough OF theory. The object now is to get
something practicable see if we cannot lay
down some rule by which the agriculturist
can be guided in hts work, so that so many
people will not put money into things of this
kind and lose it,"
You are conducting some other exneri-
ments are you notP'
Il am carrying on another line of expert.
ments--a chemical process for the extraction
OF the sugar by combining it with barium,
strontium and lime. The principle is this:
Crystalizable sugar, when brought in con-
tact with the hydrates OF these metals in
forms nd viii n
them, while all the other matters-the gums
and non-crystallizable portions-dO not COM
bine or form soluble compounds If YOU
allow the insoluble sugar compounds to stand
they subside at the bottom and you get a
cake of sugar combined with these SUBJ
stances This is put into press and pressed
dry. 1t can be kept as long as you please,
and transported without deterioration
When you wish to get the sugar out you put
it in box and heat it up with water till it
forms solution like the milk of lime. Then
You pass carbonic acid into it. That unites
with the metals, forming carbonates
OF the latter, and sets the sugar
free. The sugar solution is concentrated In
a vacuum pan and crystalized. By the way,
have come out to Chicago expressly to in
vestigate an apparatus for the publication
and concentration of the Juice of the cane,
known as the continuous vacuum pam
which is said to work very well. The great
object in the working of Northern sugar-cane
is to put the process through as quickly az
possible"
do your experiments work satisfactorily
as far rs you have gone?'
They work out very well, indeed, in The
small way we have tried, and promise good
results for those to come"
when will your report on these expert
ments be ready?"
1t will be made about the middle of Def
cember or the 1st of January, and will be is.
sued as special, which any person may
have sent to his address free by applying to
the Department of Agriculture"