180 THE CANADIAN IIOllTICULTUlUST. 



the Early Amber sugar cane, some of which I planted myself, and the 

 test distributed among those who cared to have it. I planted the seed 

 on the 18th May, and by the 30th September the plant had fully 

 matured, and its seed was fully ripe, — showing conclusively that our 

 season was ample for the maturity of the plant. My land was light 

 sandy soil, and consequently would bring the crop to perfection 

 earlier than if grown on clay. The ground on which it was raised 

 was by no means rich, but the plant attained a height of eleven feet, 

 and the tassels at the top were well filled with seed. For the first 

 six weeks its growth was very slow, but when the hot weather- fairly 

 set in it went ahead in a very rapid manner. I much regret I had no 

 means of expressing the juice ; but my first consideration was to 

 ascertain that the Early Amber cane would reach perfection in this 

 vicinity, and I believe this fact lias now been fully established. 



From reports in the press in various parts of the Province it is 

 noticed that the growing of Sorgum is becoming quite a Canadian 

 industry. Many farmers are abandoning the maple syrup and sugar 

 manufacture and adopting the less tedious mode of obtaining saccharine 

 matter from the Early Amber cane. Already prizes are being given 

 at the agricultural shows for Sorgum products, and it would be well if 

 the Hon. Mr. Wood could see his way to change the offer of a grant 

 of $2p,000 and an annual amount for ten years of $7,000 per annum 

 made by an Act passed in 1873, for producing sugar from beets, to 

 the same grant, and the same bonus per annum for Sorgum sugar. It is 

 found from practical experience in tlie neighboring States that Sorgum is 

 much easier cultivated^ is a surer crop, more easily harvested, and the 

 methods of making syrup and sugar are much simpler than from beets, 

 the chemical manipulation of which forms an almost insuperable barrier 

 to the production of sugar at sufficiently cheap rates to make it pay. 

 The cost of the necessary machinery is also very heavy. From a study 

 of the subject, I cannot but think that any attempt made in the 

 manufacture of sugar from beets, which I see agitated in the neighbor- 

 ing Province of Quebec, must, like those made in various parts of the 

 States, lead eventually to disaster. A cheap stationary or a portable 

 steam crusher, which like the thrashing machine can be conveyed 

 from farm to farm, will be the next thing in order. The sugaring 

 aparatus is more expensive, and will probably require a company with 

 a considerable capital to erect and work it. 



