New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-13
SORGHUM FOR SYRUP.
as A SUGAR AND SYRUP PRODUCING PLANT
- 1T Is SAID TO EQUAL CANE.

as A SUGAR AND SYRUP PRODUCING PLANT
IT'S SAID TO EQUAL CANE.
Az INDUSTRY ADAPTED TO BROAD AREA OF
THE couNrRY-NEED OF GOOD syRuP-nIs.
TORY OF SORGHUM CULTURE.
I. To the Editor of The Tribune.
s,r. Those Of us who have passed twoscore and
ten wears remember with what keen satisfaction
uhen children, We tasted the delicious, smooth
rich amber-colored, sugar-house syrup and
sses then on sale in all parts of the country
hut which at the present time is nowhere to be
,ound in our markets. The greatly increased and
d. constantly growing demand for refined sugar has
made heavy inroads upon the molasses product
q The new and improved scientific methods for the
ssnaration and recovery of grained sugar from the
,uice Of the cane has greatly lessened the sup
,lv of moasses from cane-producing countries, as
we'll as the marvellous increase in the production
of sugar from beets, the resduum of winch Is
unfit for it's manufacture. The bounty paid IN TINS
country for the production OF sugar containing
81 per cent and upward of saccharlne matter mas
stimulated the conversion of molasses into sugar, SO
that pure New-Oreans molasses has almost us
appeared from our markets From cane sugar-pro-
ducing countries We import what Is conmerciai!
designated black strap which is largely auui'e'-
ated with glucose and other substances to improve
It's color and consistency. The mixture contains
!. small percentage of saccharne matter althoush
If fine appearance, and IL sold in all our markets.
under the attractive names OF silver drip dia"ou
drip vanilla drip. pure sugar drip and rock cahuy
drips AS a heat-prcducing nourishng 1000 IL ooes
not compare in value with the 'moiasses vi
former days. as ii is little more thah the uress vi
sugar houses In tropical countries co'orea WIN
glucose and chemicals The resduum from 'he
conversion Of beets into sugar Is offensive III 'as'e
and smell, and is distilled for the production OF
vinegar and alcohol .
As more than onebalf of the sugar consumer III
the world Is made from beets, the uecrease III INC
molasses product is easily understood WINE 'he
policy of paying a bounty for the proouc''o VI
Grained sugar in this country remains In force
"a tho demand for sugar from cane-producing
countries is increasing. cannot look 10 Uopica'
or semi-tropical countries for supply vi soou,
ture wholesome molasses at mouefa'e ooS' anu
we must therefore. produce it at nome lhere was
consumed in the United States IN issz h''ie "'oie
than 100 100000 gallons of syrups and moiasses OF
=, ton mounds per gallon 100000 tons. Al an aver
are retail, price of 80 cents per gallon. the value
Of our total consumption was $o0oe'oOo Therefore
,ts production at home would create an important
and useful industry
WILL GROW ANYWHERE IN THE CORN BELT.
For this purpose / desire to call the attention Oh
,he readers Of The Tribune to the improved
of SORGHUM, cane as a sugar and syrup-producing
p,apt which can be successfully grown anywhere
within the corn belt of this country. IL suceeeus
best as a sugar producer in temperate chi"a'e.
corghum is not by any means newly discovered
,,ont lis culture dates back to the days or the
ancient Pharaois 1t then cultivated 1or Hs
seed product alone from which bread ana cakes
were made for human food DIR. Livingston III HIS
history of his travels in Africa. mentions sorghum
seed as one Of the staple articles oil iood a'i'o"s
the natives holding the same relative position"
wit
duced into this country about forty years ago ana
has been grown in small quantities in nearly every
State in 1-nion--At that time niue was Hno"N
of the superiority of one variety over aiio'".' III
respect to the sugar content, or the ie"s,'' ~
time required to mature the plant so as 10 OBTAIN
.ha hast res,,lfs There are nearly four hundred
named varieties Of which only fifteen nave oeeh
found worthy. Of cultivation for thelr sugar o""
tent. Its value as sugar producer mas oes" N.''
much increased by scientific cultivation SEED seiec-
,on and bybridation. BY these means Ii mas Deem
RAPIDLY advanced to its content OF sugar ioi"
an uncertain average of less than 10 per cent 10
maximum of 22.s per cent. Nor does any one care
IN cav that the limit has yet been reached' OF 'ha'
nv scientific cultivation sorghum VIII not YET De-
.oma tho richest sugar-producing plant In the
world The average yield of sugar obtained Ten
,ears ago per ton of cane twenty pounds, whie
On 1892 the average 40 pounds. and much
higher percentage has been obtained In indiViouai
cases Jl.t- ,
The cultivation or the peet TOT sugar pio""N''o
began In France under the first Napoleon ana us
Improvement by scientific culture and hypr'da''oh
has been slowly going on ever SINCE as wen do
the Improvement OF the processes TOT 'he eN'rae-
ton Of the beet juice and its conversion INTO sugar
The culture of sorghum for sugar produc'ioh II Vi
comper atvely recent date. The process OIL eA'iao.
INK the juice and It's manufacture INTO sugar 10
VET in its infancy, but the results thus FAR OBJ
tanned give promise of even better average re'ui"S
than have heen secured from bects.
There have been many failures In the past IN the
ATTEMPTS TO produce sugar and syrup OF hlgh qua's
from sorghum. The reason is easily eXpiai'eo'
Frs-A variety containing a small percentage OF
sugar content has been grown
Second-The juice has been extracted peiore 'ne
plant was properly matured
rbird-The leaves have been ground up with the
cane and their juice mixed with that OF the cane
Juice producing an unpleasant flavor
Fourth-The juice has been aiio"eo 10 iei"e"'
before conversion into sugar
Fifth-Defective knowledge of the proper cheinicai
treatment necessary to destroy the acidity ia 'he
Juice and clarity and separate the saccharne mat
ter from other obnoxious foreign substances.
Sixth-Want OF knowledge as 10 the proper ten-
perature in boiling TO secure the best results
seventh-Want Of proper facilities Tor grihding 'ne
cane extracting the juice and converting IL lhto
sugar and syrup we'll as the use Oh cruue anu
defective apparatus.
Eiehtb-Defective filtration before boiling.
Ninth-Evaporation in iron pans or Kettles over
~, ordinary coal or wood fire. in place OF copper or
znc-iined pans heated with steam
Tenth-Want of practical knowledge wh'cn must
he gained nv experience and investigation In grow
Ing and harvesting the cane ana It's coh'eis'o"