LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 249 



Before closing this article I must be permitted to cite in detail a few prac- 

 tical facts : Hon. 0. S. Powell of River Palls, Wisconsin, at the convention 

 of the Mississippi Valley Cane Growers' Association at St. Louis, Missouri, one 

 year ago, stated that on that year he had produced from 60 acres of ground 

 eight and four-fifths tons of corn stalks per acre, producing 14| gallons of 

 syrup per ton, equal to 128 gallons of syrup per acre on a 60-acre tract, and 

 that over 200 miles north of us, and within 40 miles of the city of St. Paul. 

 A Mr. Stout of Kansas, at the same convention, reported from 125 acres an 

 average yield of a little over 10 tons of stalks per acre, and 12| gallons of 

 syrup to the ton, and 127|- gallons of syrup per acre. Mr. Allen of Kansas, 

 from 25 acres produced nine tons of stalks to the acre, yielding 13 gallons of 

 syrup per ton, or 117 gallons of syrup per acre. 



Perhaps the most extensive establishment in the country, or the world, 

 engaged exclusively in manufacturing sugar from the sorghum or the northern 

 cane, is the Rio Grande works in Cape May county, New Jersey. In 1882 

 this establishment planted over a thousand acres. Bad weather caused them 

 great trouble, and necessitated the planting of some of their ground three 

 times over, occupying a planting season of near two months, from the middle 

 of April to the middle of June. But perseverance generally insures success, 

 and their case was no exception to the rule. After manufacturing 600 acres of 

 their cane they report a yield of 10 tons per acre, or 6,000 tons of cane, turn- 

 ing out 337,250 pounds of sugar, and 55,000 gallons molasses. 



Value per acre, 562 lbs. sugar at 8^ cts :.. $47 77 



Value per acre, 91f gallons syrup at 40 cts 36 67 



Total product per acre on 600 acres $84 44 



Next to the Rio Grande works, one of the most important in the country is 

 the Champaign works of the State of Illinois. Their entire acreage is not 

 given, but from the season's business of 1882 they report a product of 125,000 

 pounds of sugar and 22,500 gallons molasses, with an average return of $75 

 per acre. 



Instances, almost without number, might be multipled, but we will dismiss 

 this branch of our subject by a brief quotation from our own Professor 

 Kedzie, at the same convention, who reported from our Agricultural College 

 farm a yield at the rate of 150 gallons of syrup to the acre, "choice and care- 

 fully made." 



I had prepared some data touching the manner of manufacture, and the 

 machinery and ingredients used, but they must be omitted. 



When the boundless resources of our country are fully developed — when 

 the American people cease to call on their law-makers for protection, and 

 embrace the theory of old Dr. Franklin, that "God helps those who help 

 themselves," then will the granaries of this Egypt of the western world pour 

 forth their contents to relieve the famishing millions of overcrowded Europe 

 — then will our surplus sugar go forth side by side with our wheat and corn, 

 and our surplus wool beside our cotton — no Chinese wall in the shape of reve- 

 nue laws, will separate us from the outside world and prevent the industrious, 

 the poor, and the needy on both sides the great water from purchasing the 

 necessaries of life at the price of production, and we shall be at least one step 

 nearer what we have so long professed to be — a free people. 



Note— This concluding remark is suggested by tlie recollection of the fact that the American 

 consumers arc paying not far from thirty million dollars a year for the privilege of buying their 

 sugar from other countries. 



