33 



would add nearly a quarter of a million pounds to the amount of sugar 

 that could be actually obtained from it. 



FERTILIZATION. 



Quite a number of analyses were made at the request of the proprie- 

 tors of the plantation from cuts of cane that had been differently fertil- 

 ized with the end in view of determining the relative value of the 

 fertilizers used. As no precautions had been taken to secure uniform- 

 ity of conditions in other respects, however, I could attach little impor- 

 tance to the results , and will not reproduce them here. Such experiments 

 are valuable only when carried out with the greatest care as regards 

 the conditions of comparison, and even then great discrimination of 

 judgment is required in arriving at conclusions from a careful balancing 

 of results. 



ADOPTION OF DIFFUSION FOR THE COMING CAMPAIGN AT DES L1GNES 



Messrs. Shattuck & Hoffman have become so much impressed with 

 the advantages of the diffusion method for the extraction of juice, as 

 shown by the experiments of the Department, and were so thoroughly 

 convinced of its superiority over milling by its successful operation at 

 Governor Warmoth's and Colonel Cunningham's last season, that they 

 have decided to adopt it at Des Lignes for this year's campaign. As this 

 bulletin goes to press a double-line battery, with an estimated capacity 

 of 400 tons a day, is in process of erection at the plantation, supple- 

 mented by greatly increased evaporating facilities, and great pains 

 are being taken to have the equipment of the house complete in all re- 

 spects. Contracts have been made with neighboring planters for their 

 crops of cane, and it is expected that a considerable amount will be 

 worked up. In view of the size of the plant, and of the advantage 

 which would be derived by the industry. from a careful control and 

 study of the season's work, arrangements have been made whereby the 

 Department will have control of the chemical work, and a complete re- 

 port of the season's operations will be made after the close of the cam- 

 paign. 



7082 Bull. 22 3 



