46 



bids fair to give us continual and disastrous delays. We have also found a very se- 

 rious fault in the strike pan. It was noticed that water was continually entering the 

 pan during the boiling of it. It was first thought that this was due to a leaky coil, 

 but further investigation showed that it was a reflux from the condenser. This flow 

 of water into the pan will necessitate the taking out of the leg pipe or the condenser, 

 or both, to investigate the cause of the accident. 



The Thoen trap, connecting with the pan, does not work, and great trouble is ex- 

 perienced in keeping a proper adj ustment of the escape from the coils. Various leaks 

 occurred in different parts of the house during the week, producing an untidy appear- 

 ance of the floors and showing carelessness in the erection of the apparatus. Nearly 

 all of the fittings and pumps which have been taken out show ddbris of various kinds 

 which has been left in the pipes and tanks, and this debris has caused a great 

 amount of delay. 



CULTURE WORK WITH SORGHUM. 

 AT STERLING. 



The experiments in establishing new varieties of sorghum, improving 

 old ones, and developing crosses were continued at Sterling during the 

 season of 1891. The general line of the work was that pursued in for- 

 mer years and the detailed results will be found in the report of Mr. 

 A. A. Denton, the efficient superintendent of the station, which will 

 follow. 



In regard to the character of this work it may be said, in answer to 

 any possible criticism, that although much of it appears to be unneces- 

 sary it is difficult to see what part of it can be safely omitted. In the 

 great number of different varieties of sorghum which have been tried 

 almost everyone has presented some quality which seemed valuable, 

 and it seems unwise to wholly reject any variety as long as there is any 

 possibility of its developing any quality which may prove of permanent 

 benefit to the industry. Nevertheless, it may be said that, after four 

 years' careful work, it is possible at the present time to select some 

 five or six varieties, which on the whole have shown the very best 

 qualities for sugar-making purposes. As the result of this work the 

 old established varieties which heretofore have been used for this pur- 

 pose are giving up the field to the new and improved varieties. A few 

 years ago the only varieties of sorghum that were used for sugar-mak- 

 ing purposes were the Early Amber and the Early Orange. It may be 

 said at the present time that the day of usefulness of these two varie- 

 ties is passed, but they have not been cultivated in vain. The trouble 

 with the Early Amber has always been the small size of the stalk, its 

 delicacy, the ease with which it would retrograde, and the rapidity with 

 which, after reaching the period of maturity, it would pass into a con- 

 dition unfit for manufacture. Its chief merit was its early maturity 

 and the fact that in certain conditions it would furnish a juice which, 

 at maturity, contained a fairly good content of sugar. On the other 

 hand, the Early Orange was a sturdy variety, yielding well, and per- 

 sistent in its type. It has, however, from the first been characterized 



