48 



The good qualities of the McLean variety received two years ago 

 from Australia from Hon. Peter McLean, through the office of the Secre- 

 tary of State, have also been shown during the two years of growth. 

 While this variety, so far as chemical analysis is concerned, leads all 

 the others during the past two years, it has not shown as good results 

 in the factory as the Colmaii or Collier varieties. It is nevertheless 

 one of the most promising varieties and deserves the most careful prac- 

 tical tests. 



It is a matter of regret to me that I am able to give no greater per- 

 sonal attention to this interesting work than an occasional visit to the 

 station, but this regret is tempered by the knowledge that the work lias 

 been intrusted to such able hands. It requires not only intelligence 

 and enthusiasm to conduct work of this kind, but an untiring industry 

 and an unruffled, patience. I think it will be granted by anyone who has 

 had any personal knowledge of the work at the station that these qual- 

 ities have been eminently manifested in the details of its work. 



In regard to the lines of the experimental work, slight changes will 

 be made from time to time as experience may dictate. Heretofore the 

 work has been conducted solely by analytical data; hereafter it is 

 hoped that the element of practical work in the factory may enter into 

 the solution of the problem. Not only is it important that varieties of 

 cane shall be produced with high sugar content, low glucose, and high 

 purity, but also that the varieties shall be sturdy, able to endure the 

 vicissitudes of the climate in which they are grown, to withstand the 

 constant and severe winds of the central southwestern part of our coun- 

 try, to endure drought and rapid changes of temperature, to mature be- 

 fore killing frosts, and to be able to maintain their sugar content for 

 many weeks after the growing period has ceased. The solution of 

 many of these problems can not depend upon laboratory experience 

 alone; actual experience in the nictory must be the final test to which 

 all these varieties are to be subjected. It is evident at once that such 

 tests can not properly be made in a factory making sugar on a commercial 

 scale. The only proper place for the solution of such problems is in the 

 experimental factory, such as was established during the past season 

 at Medicine Lodge. Keferring further to the lines on which the work 

 should be continued, I have in view not only the extension of the work 

 on the general line on which it has been carried on in Sterling, but also 

 its development in certain special lines looking more directly to its 

 practical use. 



The time has now come when it is possible to furnish intending 

 growers of sorghum for manufacturing purposes varieties of seed of 

 satifactory character and developed from scientific selections extending 

 over a period of years. The growers of such seed, however, must not 

 be astonished to find among them some reversions to the primitive 

 forms. Especially is this true in the case of crosses, where many years 

 of careful selection will have to ensue before an absolute uniformity of 



