328 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, 



It is the proper province of the Department to demonstrate in Lou- 

 isiana jnst how much increase in sugar yield can be produced hy tlie 

 application of the methods named in tlie act making the appropria- 

 tions. This done, and all tlie processes tor doing it accurately pointed 

 out and logically discussed, it will not be difficult for the intelligent 

 planter to determine the economic value of the new methods. 



To this task should be brought a careful study of the chemical prob- 

 lems involved and the best ajjparatus which this country or Eurojje 

 can afford. From this task should be eliminated all prejudices for or 

 against any particular process, and esjjecially all tendency to misrep- 

 resent or misinterpret facts. 



At least the Department will be able in subsequent esperiments to 

 show the Soiithern sugar-raiser whether the promises which these 

 preliminary experiments l*ave made shall really be performed, or 

 whether the practice of the process of diffusion for sugar cane is a 

 miistake and the prospects it has offered of aiding the sugar industry 

 a delusion. 



It is certain that with the fierce rivalry between the European beet 

 and the tropical cane industry, producing an enormous surplus of 

 sugar and sending the prices down almost Ijelow the cost of produc- 

 tion, the indigenous sugar-cane industry of this country will languish 

 unless the Department of Agriculture be able to lead it into a life of 

 renewed vigor. 



EXPERIMENTS IN THE 3IANUFACTURE OF SUGAR AT MAGNOLIA 

 STATION, LAWRENCE, LA. 



By Guilford L. Spencer. 



The manufacturing season at Magnolia commenced November 7, 

 1886, and ended December 20. This completes the third season's work 

 of the Department at this station. 



I shall give in as few words as possible a brief comparison of the 

 growing seasons of the past three years. 



In 188-i the weather was favorable until the 1st of June; then 

 followed a period of very wet weather, lasting until August, which 

 was a very dry month. The conditions in September and October 

 were favorable to the maturing of the cane. During the rolling sea- 

 son heavy rains were frequent. 



SEASON OF 1885. 



The early part of this season was exceptionally wet. From April 

 1 to July 1 the rainfall was limited to but three or four showers ; in 

 August and September the rains were frequent and heavy ; from Oc- 

 tober until the end of the season the weather was exceptionally dry 

 and cool, the mean temperature being considerably below that of 

 1884. In September the cane was prostrated by a heavy wind-storm. 



SEASON OF 1886. 



February, March, and April were cold and wet, consequently the 

 cane obtained a late start. May was dry and cool. June and July 

 so wet that it was impossible to properly cultivate the cane. August 

 was dry and exceedingly hot; September and through the rolling 

 season the weather was very dry. The dry Aveather j^robably saved 

 the cane from being blown down in the severe storm of October, 

 when the lower coast of the Mississippi, near Pointe a la Hache, was 



