246 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In some cases it is best to commence the investigation of a subject with the 

 mind unprejudiced. Whether or not it was an advantage, it was, nevertheless, 

 the fact that when tlie subject of sorghum culture was first investigated at the 

 college no one connected with the chemical department had ever worked at the 

 manufacture or had witnessed the process. 



The result of the experiment, with the figures in regard to cost, which are 

 presented, will show that sorghum syrup can easily be made of fair quality and 

 with good profit by any careful painstaking operator. It can be produced with- 

 out the grassy taste and with a good color, and, in short, a useful syrup. 



Thus far we have not sold any of the molasses, but others in the State say 

 it brings fifty cents per gallon easily, and is in demand at that price. In other 

 parts of the country syrup production is advancing very rapidly. At the cane 

 growers' convention held in St. Louis December 13 and 14, there were present 

 many men from Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and southern States, who had 

 made over a thousand gallons of syrup during the past season. 



I have attempted to ascertain the acreage and number of gallons of syrup 

 produced in this State, but on inquiry find that the crop reports made to the 

 secretary of State do not include sorghum in the list of productions reported. 



In Kansas in 1881, 45,628 acres were raised, producing 3,899,440 gallons of 

 syrup. In 1882, 68,678 acres were raised, producing 6,181,120 gallons of syrup. 

 From these figures it appears the number of acres planted increased fifty per 

 cent, while the number of gallons increased 58 per cent. 



Sorghum syrup is worth on the average forty cents a gallon in Kansas. At 

 this price the crop of 1881 yielded §34 per acre, the crop of 1882 ^36 per acre, 

 gross returns. "\Ve find also that the average number of gallons per acre in 

 Kansas during the past season was ninety. Comparing this with the produc- 

 ing cost of a gallon of syrup made at the college, and which we find cost thirty 

 cents to produce, we have a net profit of ten cents per gallon, or $9 per acre 

 throughout the entire State of Kansas. There are few crops that can make 

 such a showing on average production and profit. 



EXPEEIMENTS WITH INSECTICIDES. 



BY A. J. COOK. 

 [Read at Galesburg Institute.] 



It is now settled beyond question that the arsenitea are the cheapest and 

 most efficient specific against the Codling Moth. Because of their efficiency, 

 they are now quite generally used to destroy the larvae of the Cabbage Butter- 

 fly and the Currant Saw-fly. I find upon inquiry that many use these poisons 

 to protect their cabbages and currants and then use the cabbages and currants 

 without hesitation. The people of California ask if it would be safe for them, 

 in their rainless climate, to use these poisons to protect against the Codling 

 Moth and such insects as the Canker Worms. Many of us have noticed that 

 ten to fifteen days after we have applied London purple or Paris green to the 

 potato vines, especially if mixed with water or plaster, even though there have 

 been no rainp, the poisons seem to have lost their power to protect the vines. 



