PREFACE 



Few subjects are of greater importance to us, aa 

 a people, than the producing of sugar ; for no coun- 

 try in the world consumes so much as the United 

 States, in proportion to its population. It is a sub- 

 ject of special interest at this time, on account of 

 the great advance that has taken place in the price 

 of this very important product. 



We have been hoping for years to obtain a plant 

 which would produce sugar in the northern portion 

 of our country ; and it is supposed by many that we 

 have at last succeeded. But whether we have or 

 not, the subject is exciting a great deal of interest, 

 especially with the writer ; and his attention has been 

 given to the new plant, — not, however, without fear 

 that it would prove, like many other new things, 

 comparatively worthless. Having ascertained cer- 

 tain facts in regard to it, he was induced to give 

 them to the public through the newspapers, suppos- 

 ing that that w^ould be the last of it, so far as he 

 was concerned. But, to his surprise, letters began 

 to pour in, at the rate of three or four a day, from 

 all parts of the country, from Maine to Minnesota, 

 asking for further information, and for seed of the 

 plant. These letters were answered, and seed sent 

 free of charge, until they came so thick and fast, he 

 was obliged to say that he could not answer them 

 in detail. 



Finding there was such a desire to obtain infor- 

 1*^ 



