EEPOPtT 



OF 



THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, 



FOE THE YEAR 1871). 



Sre: I liavo tlie lienor to transmit this my third mmual preliminary 

 report of the agricultural couditioii of the country and of the work iu 

 hand and accomplished by the depai-tmcut during the past year. 



At this tune I recall with satisfaction the encouragement you gave 

 wlien I assumed the duties of Commissioner to the jiroposed attempt to 

 stimulate the manufacture of sugar from any and every source, so that 

 the production within the boundaries of our own country should at least 

 equal the home consumption. Keporting progress as the result of the 

 efforts of this department iu this direction, it is not too much to say 

 that the success attending the manufacture of cane-sugar from sorghum 

 and maize will mark the year 1879 as an important epoch iu the agri- 

 cultural progi^ess of our people. 



With the knowledge that during the past summer and fall sugar of 

 good qnality has been profitably made from Texas to Northern Minne- 

 sota fi-om the "Minnesota early amber" cane (the seed of which was 

 widely distributed by the department;) that sirups weighing 12 pounds 

 to the gallon, at least one-half of which was crystallizable cane-sugar, 

 was made and can bo again made in nearly every State in the Union 

 by flimiers with ordinary and inexpensive machinery at a cost of in| 

 cents per gallon, and with the knowledge that; by means of larger and 

 better appoiute<l mills, that need not cost to exceed $10,000, sugar 

 and sirup have been made the past season from sorghum by the car- 

 load, wliich commanded the highest market price; it is not too much to 

 assert, that, as a result of the work of this department, which has 

 constantly before it the duty of accomplishing all that may be done to 

 increase or multiply those products of the soil wdiich constitute the 

 wealth and sustain the manufactures and commerce of the country, a 

 new industry has been fairly established, the imi)ortanco and significanco 

 of which it is difacult to realize. With this and a knowledge of the 

 work of the division of chemistry dui'ing the past season (a short state- 

 ment of v/hicli vrill form part of this report), I am warranted in assert- 

 ing that it has been finally and practically jiroved that one of the most 

 iaiporlant, expensive, and indispensable requisites of modern life can be 

 jirofitably grown where heretofore it was supposed not possible to pro- 

 duce it; that it can be manufactured in Quantities sufficient to meet any 



