iy 
4 d. Georgia (2 lots). 
; 37. Experiments in the manufacture of sugar from— 
4 a. Sorghum. 
b. Maize. 
ce. Millet. 
d. Teosinte or Euchiena luxurians. 
Among the minerals that have been analyzed are specimens from 
nearly every section of the country, many of them giving evidence of 
the existence of valuable mineral deposits, which warrant a more thor- 
ough examination. It has been the desire of this department to assist, 
as far as could be done without interference with our regular work, in 
the development of these mineral resources of the country. 
The examination of two new materials, the algarobo and the canaigre, 
for tannin, shows the existence of a very abundant source of this im- 
portant material, and gives reason for the belief that the latter at least 
may soon afiord a cheap supply to the arts. Thus far only a prelimi- 
nary examination has been made, but the investigation is being continued, 
and will, it is hoped, have reached definite conclusions before the publi- 
cation of the annual Report, of which this will be a part. The impor- 
tance of a new and cheap source from which tannin may be readily ob- 
tained can scarcely be overestimated, and the most diligent prosecution 
of this search in various directions will be continued until success is 
assured. The amount of barks and other substances, valued for their 
tannin, reaches many millions of dollars yearly, and, if the canaigre root 
answers our expectations, the world’s supply may be easily grown by 
our own people. 
Among the interesting subjects of investigation and progress which 
have been undertaken by this department, and which are yet incomplete, 
is the increase of our production of sugar. Failing (as yet) in obtaining 
- anew variety of seed-cane from Tampico, which I had contracted for in 
some considerable quantity, I was gratified to receive from our corre- 
spondent in Japan a small lot of the best varieties grown there, and 
also, through the efforts of Dr. T. G. Richardson, of the State University 
of Louisiana, a small quantity from the Sandwich Islands, to whom, like- 
wise, Iam indebted for some 22 varieties of seed-cane, as well as for 
other plants and seeds from Brazil. 
It is too early as yet to predict the results of these various trials, but 
a variety of cane from Jamaica, called the ‘‘Salangore,” is apparently 
worthy of extensive introduction and trial; and, accordingly, action has 
been taken to secure a moderate amount for this purpose. Without re- 
mitting in any degree efforts to increase sugar production by encour: 
aging the cultivation of the tropical cane (with that end advising the 
divorce of the mechanical from the agricultural part of the business, and 
the establishment of the central factory system), and also by obtaining 
and distributing the best sugar-beet seed to be had, and collecting such 
facts on the production of sugar from beets as would give a fair state- 
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 7 
