The diffusion battery in good hands works perfectly; the clarification of the juice causes no delays; the concentration to the condition of semi-sirup may be readily, rapidly, and surely effected in apparatus which has been brought to great perfection by long experience, and in many forms; the work at the strike pan requires only to be placed in the hands of an expert; the mixer never fails to do its duty; there are various forms of centrifugal machines on the market, some of which are nearly perfect. If, then, the mechanical work of delivering, cutting, cleaning, and elevating the cane can be accomplished with regularity and rapidity, the operation of a well adjusted sugar factory should proceed without interruption or delay from Monday morning to Saturday night. THE FUTURE OF THE SORGHUM SUGAR INDUSTRY. An acre of land cultivated in sorghum yields a greater tonnage of valuable products than in any other crop, with the possible exception of hay. Under ordinary methods of cultivation, ten tons of cleaned cane per acre is somewhat above the average, but under the best cultivation the larger varieties often exceed twelve, while the small early amber sometimes goes below eight tons per acre. Let seven and a half tons of cleaned cane per acre be assumed for the illustration. This corresponds to a gross yield of ten tons for the farmer, and at two dollars per ton gives him twenty dollars per acre for his crop. These seven and a half tons of clean cane will yield: 750 pounds of sugar. 1,000 pounds of molasses. 900 pounds of seed. 1,500 pounds of fodder (green leaves). 1,500 pounds of exhausted chips (dried). A total of 5,650 pounds. The first three items, which are as likely to be transported as wheat or corn, aggregate 2,650 pounds per acre. Sorghum will yield seven and a half tons of cleaned cane per acre more surely than corn will yield thirty bushels or wheat fifteen bushels per acre. In the comparison, then, of products which bear transportation, these crops stand as follows: Sorghum, at 71/2 tons, 2,650 pounds per acre. Corn, at 30 bushels, 1,680 pounds per acre. Wheat, at 15 bushels, 900 pounds per acre. The sugar from the sorghum is worth say 5 cents per pound; the molasses, 13/4 cents per pound; the seed, 1/2 cent per pound. The sorghum products give market values as follows: 750 pounds sugar at say 5 cents,[2] $37.50. 1,000 pounds molasses at say 13/4 cents,[2] $17.50. 900 pounds seed at say 1/2 cent,[2] $4.50. Total value of sorghum, less fodder, $59.50. The corn crop gives 1,680 pounds, at 1/2 cent $8.40. The wheat crop gives 900 pounds, at 1 cent, $9. [Footnote 2: The sugar sold this year at 53/4 cents per pound, the molasses at 20 cents per gallon, and the seed at ---- per bushel of 56 pounds. The seed is of about equal value with corn for feeding stock.]