152 ANNUAL REPORT 



There is a bill that has been introduced in Congress — I think 

 it is on the table in the house — which proposes to organize a 

 chemical department which shall have most thorough control of 

 this matter, all through the country, in regard to the adultera- 

 tion of foods. I hope we may succeed in having something of 

 that kind done. When we do we may rest assured we shall not 

 only make our own syrups, but grow abundantly and profitably, 

 and they will be a healthful article of consumption. 



There is no difficulty at all in making these cane syrups as 

 free from adulteration as anything can possibly be made. There 

 is no use in manufacturing Amber cane syrups deleterious to 

 anyone, and it will come, surely enough, when it is necessary to 

 use nothing which will have any other but a beneficial effect 

 when manufactured. 



PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE. 



One word in regard to the Amber cane sugar and syrup man- 

 ufacture. I may say I spent considerable money in endeavor- 

 ing to make it a success. But I became convinced years ago 

 that the process followed was not the right one; that the diffu- 

 sion process was the proper one. I may be able to tell you more 

 about it hereafter than I am able to do now. The work of the 

 chemist is very nice, and there must be great care to make it a 

 success and get the benefit of the work, and get the sugar that 

 will crystalize. It needs to be handled properly. 



Beets make a good syrup for use, but the syrup is not practi- 

 cally a syrup to be put upon the table. But I think we have 

 beets in this country that can be used for making sugar, and in 

 the future the industry may be established among us. 



My confidence for the future of this industry is that it shall be 

 a success; that it is to continue in this country a firmly estab- 

 lished industry. 



I don't know that there is anything that I could say in regard 

 to the process to indicate to you the best method of manufactur- 

 ing what would be worth your while to take your time now. But 

 I want to reiterate the statement made by Mr. Hughes, who was 

 the chemist in a refinery in the city of Philadelphia. They had 

 a very nice plant; many of the men there have been engaged in 

 the industry during their lives, and thoroughly understand it. 



Amber cane in Minnesota is yet ahead of all the different 

 kinds of cane that have been grown; it maintains its place, and 



