44 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
SorGHUM SYRUP. 
I desire to call attention to the analyses of the juices of several 
varieties of sorghum grown during the past season upon the © 
Experiment farm. Although the season was unusually unfavor- 
able to the full development of sugar in the plant, it will be seen 
that the average of several large samples taken from large plats 
showed close agreement in composition and contained, although © 
the seed was only in the milk stage, an average of 9.55 per cent of 
cane sugar by analysis, and 9.64 by polarization. This is equal to 
the presence of twenty-one gallons of heavy syrup in each ton of 
cane. 
It will be seen that certain varieties which ripened their seed 
contained much more sugar; ten analyses of canes being given in 
which there was an average of 11.74 per cent of cane sugar and 
1.50 per cent of glucose in the juices. 
Cane of this quality could be worked very profitably for sugar, 
but in this northerly latitude it will be found advisable to limit 
the manufacture to the ,production of syrup, which is already 
being produced in this section of excellent quality, and commands 
a ready sale at good pricees. 
It would seem that several farmers could combine in establish- 
ing a suitable factory, and thereby greatly lessen the cost of manu- 
facture, improve the quality of the product, and produce at good 
profits an abundant supply of excellent syrup. 
Since my accession to the office of director, the Station has 
suffered another loss in its staff through the resignation of the 
assistant horticulturist, Mr. Beckwith, who left to take charge of 
the horticultural department of the Delaware Experiment Station, 
and in the language of my predecessor, in reference to the loss 
through promotion of Messrs. Arthur, Plumb and Babcock to 
other fields of labor, “this loss through promotion of so many 
members of our staff speaks volumes for the value of the ; 
Station as a training-ground.” I also heartily indorse hisremarks 
that “this Station deserves and should have the best talent, and 
should not allow superior inducements to deprive it of the 
services of efficient and growing investigators.” 
Another gratifying evidence of the position which this Station 
occupies in the judgment of those especially concerned in this work 
is seen in the fact that during the past year we have received many 
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delegations from other Stations, recently organized under the billfor _ 
