318 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



sorghum industry has suffered from the general depression which has been felt by 

 the sugar industry of the entire world. Low prices liave caused loss where every 

 other condition lias been favorable. It is hardly probable that the price of sugar will 

 rise again to its maximum of the years past. Only war, pestilence, or disaster 

 would produce this effect. It is best, therefore, for the sugar-grower to accept the 

 present price as final and make his arrangements accordingly. But low prices will 

 produce increased consumption, and thus, even with a smaller profit, the sugar- 

 grower, by increased production, may find his business reasonably remunerative, if 

 not as enriching as before. The sorghum-sugar groAver will be injured or benefited 

 with the growers of other kmds of sugar by these economic forces. Hence there 

 should be no enmity between the grower of the sorglium, the sugar-beet, and the 

 sugar cane, but all should work ua harmony for the general good. 



It is true the present outlook is discouraging. But discouragement is not defeat. 

 The time has now come for solid, energetic work. Science and practice must join 

 improved agriculture, and all together can accomplish what neither alone would 

 ever Ibe able to achieve. It is not wise to promise too much, but this Division would 

 fall short of its duty were it either to suppress the discouraging reports of this in- 

 dustry or fail to recognize the possibility of its success. The future depends on the 

 persistence and wisdom of the advocates of sorghum. The jiroblem they have to 

 solve is a most difficult one, but its solution is not impossible. 



It must be confessed finally that the chief object of this last series 

 of experiments, viz, to place the industry where private capital would 

 see its way clear to its extension over a large area, has not been at- 

 tained. 



It is now seen that much of what has been done is useless, and were 

 the work to be gone over again these necessary mistakes of a first 

 attempt would be avoided. Time, labor, and money could be saved. 



What encouragement is just is ofi:ered to those who are willing to 

 take up this work here and extend it. 



The great difficulties in the way of extracting the sugar from the 

 cane have been removed. The fact that sorghum, in certain circum- 

 stances, becomes a fine-sugar producing plant has been incontestably 

 established. A suitable soil and climate have been found for grow- 

 ing the crop and manufacturing the sugar. Remaining difficulties 

 in the way of success have been fairly and candidly pointed out. 



Since the present appropriation was made for continuing and con- 

 cluding these experiments, I consider that my connection with the 

 development of the industry has ended. I leave the work with only 

 one regret, and that is that the future of the sorghum-sugar industry 

 is still in doubt. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH SUGAR CANE. 



On the 1st of October I received instructions from you to purchase 

 a few tons of sugar cane in Louisiana and make some experiments 

 with it at Fort Scott. 



The craie was cut early in the season, viz, October 35 to 30, and was 

 brought as quickly as possible to the factory. 



CUTTING-MACHINE. 



The cutters which worked so poorly with sorghum did well with 

 sugar cane, and no trouble whatever was exj)erienced in producing 

 chips suitable to diffusion and at the rate of 6 tons per hour. 



CHIP-ELEVATOR. 



The same trouble was experienced with the elevator that we had 

 had to contend with so long with sorghum, and to an increased ex- 



