STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 167 



work September 13tli, and worked, through the dififusion, during 

 the season, 2,322 tons of cane. 



I have not the patience to give you the details of this season's 

 work, or to do more than refer to the conclusion to which he 

 finally came, at the close of the season, and I think that all that 

 is necessary to quote is the first paragraph of his conclusions, 

 which is in the following words, found on page 41, bulletin Xo. 14. 



" In a general review of the work, the most important point 

 suggested is the absolute failure of the experiments to demon- 

 strate the commercial practicability of manufacturing sugar 

 from sorghum." I will, however, still make one more quo- 

 tation which may be found in the closing of his report, at the 

 bottom of page 44. He says: "I consider that my connection 

 with the department of this industry has ended." I am com- 

 pelled to say that I am truly gratified that this is the last 

 that we are to hear of him in this connection. This is a most 

 mortifying conclusion of the last eight years' work of the agri- 

 cultural department, and the more so for the reason that it is so 

 entirely unnecessary and false. 



Sugar has been made from sorghum for the last six years, and 

 everybody acquainted with the history of the business during 

 that time knows it. The only difficulty connected with the bus- 

 iness is the unprecedented low price of sugar and syrup, not 

 ' only in this country but the world over. But let him pass. 



I now turn to a more pleasant aspect of this subject and will 

 refer, as I have upon former occasions, to the only practical and 

 intelligent efforts in connection with this investigation. I refer 

 to the Rio Grande Works in Xew Jersey, oj)erated by Geo. C. 

 Potts & Co., of Philadelphia, and under the management of Henry 

 A. Hughes, superintendent, and Prof. A. L. Xeale, chemist of 

 the agricultural experimental station of Xew Jersey. 



The Rio Grande Works has been in operation since the season 

 of 1882 and have been in the hands of experienced sugar men, 

 since they were first started, and have been faithfully oj)erated 

 with the purpose of making them a paying business. They have 

 also had the support of the state, by a bounty for cane and sugar, 

 until this year, but the price of sugar has continued to droj)from 

 seven and one-half cents per pound for fair refining to four 

 and one-half cents per pound at the present time; but against 

 all the most unfavorable circumstances possible they have 

 continued to fight with an indomitable courage, determined that 

 thev would succeed. 



