148 ANNUAL REPORT 



simply because people had to learn everything of value to them 

 in regard to the subject. The peculiarities of handling, how it 

 is grown, the proper time and methods for cultivation, are all 

 matters of experience; they are to be learned by men who 

 follow this industry. The details can not be told you by any 

 writer; it must be tried by the chemist until he knows just how 

 it ought to be worked. 



As to how the product of the cane should be worked is still a 

 serious question, and is one that the government has expended a 

 great deal of money upon and is still experimenting with; and 

 we are gratified to know that they are making, under the cir- 

 cumstances, very good success. As one of the original parties in 

 the matter I should have been delighted if our friend Prof. Col- 

 lier had always been the chemist of the agricultural department 

 of the United States. He was one of the men who believed in 

 this industry and always had his heart and soul in it. Unfortu- 

 nately we got a commissioner, after our friend Prof. Wm. Le Due, 

 of Hastings, went out of the office, who did not believe in sor- 

 ghum and who was determined that there should not be anything 

 done in regard to it while he was in the department. And yet 

 the appropriation was made and the industry was maintained in 

 spite of all he could do. 



Under the administration of our present worthy commissioner, 

 the Hon. N. J. Colmau, we have had a man who has had the 

 sugar cane industry at heart. A good deal of money has been 

 expended, largely at Ft. Scott, Kas. , where a very successful 

 work has beeu done in making sugar, and syrup as well. 



At Rio Grande, my favorite station in the United States, this 

 Industry has been continued; but the large plant, which cost two 

 hundred odd thousand dollars, was finally condemned as a work- 

 ing plant and was sold to go to Florida; and my friend Mr. 

 Hughes, the chemist of that institution and its sugar expert, has 

 devised a style of machinery under the aid and supervision of 

 the experimental station of IsTew Jersey, Prof. Cook in charge; 

 and the report was made in March, 1888. 



We are always unfortunate in our knowledge as to what is be- 

 ing done in this industry by our neighbors and we hold our meet- 

 ing a little before their reports are printed. But I hope before 

 we have our report printed we will have information from them 

 giving assurance of success, and I may be able to give some of 

 the results of this season's work when our report is printed. 



I wish to say to the members of the convention that I may 



