New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
PROFESSOR A. J. COOK, OF THE MICHIGAN AGRICuL-
TURAL COLLEGE. AFTER PERSONAL INVEsTI-
CATION, TAKES A FAVORABLE VIEW OF IFS
WORK.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: 1t was my good fortune, few DAYS SINCE
to visit the much-abused, and may say maligned
Department of Agriculture at Washington. After
careful investigation, feel assured that whatever
may have been the character and management OF
this Department in the past it is at present highly
praiseworthy. | was most interested in the ento-
biological work. Professor j, H. Comstock, Ento-
mologist Of the Department, nor only showed Inc
what he had done during his brief term of office but
freely explained his plans for the future. He has
commenced fine biological collection of insects
and his reports upon the close and accurate observa
tons which he is making will prove of great inter-
est and will add essentially to the value of the De-
partment reports Professor ComstOck greatly de-
sres 10 be in close relations with the entomologsts
of the whole country, that mutual aid may De
freely rendered, and the science, especially In lts
economic aspects. be best promoted. Ills unselhsh
character. ability aud attainments will certainly
secure this reciprocal aid and favor. believe that
Commissioner lie Due could not have made more
worthy and able appointment. | have wide
acquaintance with American ent0mologists, ana
respect Of all.
/ also visited the Chemical Department, in charge
OF Professor Collier and tasted Of the sugars from
sorghum and from corn which he has secured, ana
surely they their own certificate of excellence
Here we have demonstrated the fact that after
farmer has secured crop OF corn, he may turther
extract from the stalks syrup or sugar OF lnuch
greater value than Is the grain. Professor CollleT,
from the stalks on which grew sixty -nlne bushels
of corn per acre, expressed the JUICE and secured
500 worth of sugar. The conversion of the grape
sugar into cane-sugar Is not complete till the grain
Is mature hence IL Ia not only well, put pest, 10
wait till the grain is Tpened before cutting the
stalks to express the juice for sugar. This valu-
able discovery made by careful and repeated
analyses of many specimens during the past season
The percentage oil cane-Sugar Is IOund even 10 OK
coed that of Louisiana sugaT-cane The cost OF eX-
pressing the juice is light, the machinery neX-
pensiye while the work of evapOratnQ and retin-
ing is but little, if any, more difficult than that OF
making maple sugar. II is fact that we as a Ma
ton pay ont more money annually for sugar than
we receive from all our gold and SILVER mines. How
worthy of praise then, il the institution whose eX-
periments Indicate the possibility of saving this I'M
menSe expenditure.
Commissioner lie Due is also prosecuting expert
ments IN reference to the practlcabliy hnd desiTa-
bity of acclmating tea, coffee, and other valuable
exOtiCs. Many people udcule the ldea, Dut ihe
same men would ridicule the thought OF getting
sugar from corn-Stalks. Ii seems to me that sucn
experiments and INVESTIGATIONS are worthy OF an
praise. They cost but little IN COMPARISON Win the
possible benefits Failure and want OF success Will
he the outcome of much OF the work. bur that Is
true of all research. The few successes VIII more
than Justify ali the outlay. Were these scoftrrs TO
guide then all progress would stop. 10 would seem
that narrowneSs or jealousy must prompt much OF
this QUERY, rs II certainly seems unwISe ana IRA
tional General Le Due * lab,rlng TO disseminate
valuable plants when otherwise would be SLOW OF
Introduction. ! know. for example, that he has
asked leading hce-keeper5 70 suggest promising
foreign honey piants. stating that he would secure
their importation. Other Cover ments do such
work and We age wise To follow Their exampe. In
view OF the facts have cltcd it Is 10 be hoped that
the present Congressional committee which Is
investigating the Department may catch President
Haye-, spirit. and recommend a larger apptopla-
ton that the Commissioner may secure, ~ ne
desire. to- only the best assistants ia all his inyesti-
cations and thus make tie Department even more
fruitful of good. A. ). COOK.