‘qe 
i a . 
< es 
I donot think, therefore, that itis extravagant to believe that with 
_. the best culture and most economical method of manufacture the 
é 
yield per ton of cane in Louisiana may be brought up to 200 pounds. 
The introduction of diffusion means shsioat a complete rehabilitation 
of the average sugar-house. It would be unreasonable to expect that 
planters will have the money and the desire to undertake such a 
radical change, or at least to make it rapidly. 
But it seems to me that the gradual introduction of diffusion, with 
its concomitant machinery, will work a great change in the sugar 
industry of the South, bringing success and prosperity where for 
years a hard struggle for existence has been going on. 
The final result, I sincerely hope, will bring into cultivation the ex- 
tensive areas of rich sugar lands now lying idle and increase the pro- 
duction of the State of Louisiana to 500,000 tons annually. 
I can not close this report without expressing my hearty apprecia- 
tion of the support I have received from the sugar-planters. The 
great majority of them were skeptical in respect of the process, but 
all were anxious that a thorough trial should be made. 
Particularly I desire to thank Governor Warmoth for his constant 
and enthusiastic support and for generously giving $5,000 and more 
to continue experiments when the funds appropriated for them had 
been exhausted by the expensive delays caused by the cyclone and 
imperfections in the machinery. Without this timely aid the whole 
work would have been stopped on the very threshold of success. 
The advice and encouragement of Messrs. Dymond and McCall, 
members of the advisory committee, helped me greatly during the 
most trying days of the work, when it seemed an almost hopeless 
task to wrestle further with difficulties of a purely mechanical nature. 
The active co-operation of Mr. J. B. Wilkinson, jr., was a source 
of constant assistance during the whole progress of the work, which 
is but inadequately recognized by a simple sentence of thanks. 
Of my own assistants, Messrs. Prarkielsnty and Spencer had charge 
of the erection of the building and of the apparatus, except that put 
up by the Colwell Company. 
Mr. Barthelemy took charge of the sugar-making during the var- 
ious trials, and Mr. Spencer had the general supervision of the diffu- 
sion process and particularly of the lime-kiln and carbonatation appa- 
ratus. Messrs. Crampton and Fake took charge of the chemical 
work. Mr. John Dugan was master of diffusion. Mr. R. Sieg, as 
consulting engineer, rendered.much assistance. His long experience 
and thorough knowledge of the literature of diffusion rendered his 
services particularly valuable. 
Finally, I will say that no one recognizes more fully than myself 
the many imperfections noticed during the progress of the experi- 
ments in the machinery and methods employed. I have endeavored 
not to conceal these, believing that in pointing them out a service is 
rendered the public only less valuable than that secured by complete 
success. 
The success of the work at all three stations has been most grati- 
fying, and the diffusion process for the manufacture of sugar has 
been advanced beyond the experimental stage by the labors of this 
Department, beginning in 1883, and it is now offered to the sugar- 
growers of the country with the confident assurance that it is the 
best, most simple, and most economical method of extracting sugar 
both from sorghum and sugar canes. 
ae PO eked A UME gr Fi Re, ONE” MR eR RS te i TA gy 
REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. - 967 | 
