National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-17
ExpERlMEMrs wlrH soRoHuM.


uhNctuEfhN Dg hfoEthNs
Commissioner Loring has Issued q circular letter
to the manufacturers ofsugar from sorghum, bcots
aud sugar producing plants IN the United States,
III which he says: Congress, in the afpropra.
ton for this Department for the fiscal year COM
moncing July ], 1889, has provided for "expcri-
ment5 In the manufacture Of sugar from sorghum,
boets, and other sugarproducing plants" In as
Stunning the duties Of my Office in 1881 found 1856
acres Of sorghum, containing ffly-two varieties,
which had been planted in Washington for the
use Of the Department Forty-two acres
Of the op were Overtaken by the frost before be-
ing sufficiently ripe for use, and This portion OF the
crop vas SO badly damaged rs to be unfit for maui
ufc,ure. The yield Of cane per acre on the nine
ty.thrcc acres gathered was two and half tons,
the number of gallons of syrup obtained was 2gl,
and the number OF pounds of sugar was l6j. The
expense Of raising the cane was S0,5S9i5, and the
expense of converting tho cane into syrup and
sugar was 81 667j9, MI aggregate OF SS65f o. Inc
manufacture Of sorghum ut the Department.,
therefore, has been found to be so expensive and
unsatisfactory that the work can evidently be
better conducted elsewhere,
While, therefore, such scientific Investigation rs
Is deemed necessary at this Department Will be
continued the experiment of manufacturing can
better be conducted by those who have thus fur
furnished us all the valuable information we
have; aud this work refer to the manufacturers
themselves, to whom l submit tue following
propositions
Each manufacturer Is requested to submit mn
account of his work to the department.. covering
the following points, viz
First-An accurate account Of the number of
acres of sorghum brought to his mill the number
Of ions Of cane manufactured; the yield of sur-
ghum rcr acre. the mode Of fertilising; the time
Of planting; the time required for maturing the
plant; and the value OF the crop rs food for cattle
ailcr juice hos been expressed.
Sycond-The amount of sugar manufactured (;
the amount yielded per ton OF cane; the quality of
the sugar; The amount OF syrup in1luiactuted
the success of the evGporutor; the vacuum pan
nnd the centrifugal IN the work of manufdctur-
ing.
ihird-The number of hands employed In the
mill, the cost OF fuel, the cost of machinery, the
wages paid for labor, aud the price of sorghum at
the mill II not raised 10y the manufactures.
Til; returns, when received, VIII be submitted
to Il competent committee for examination, and in
order TO compensate the manufacturers for the
work Of making these returns promise to pay for
the ten test returns the sum OF 81 200 each, the de-
cision t. be made ny the aiOiead committee.
| Each return must be sworn to before Competent
officer
The circular also requests statements relative to
experlm.nls with the sugur beet and oiieis 81 200
for the two best returns Of That ctup. II also states
that promises of corn-sialk sugar succ 1911, not
having been fulfilled experiments in that dircc-
ton will not be made this year by the Department
All the proposals to enter upon this work must he
laid before the Commissioner On or before August
| l, 1852.
correspondent of the Boston IOS says; The
| efforts With which the present Commi-sio OF
| Agriculture is making to conduct the business Of
| his Department On economical and practical prin
cples entite him to the respect Hnd confidence of
| the community. lie seems to be aware that
| may be led into ruinouS schemes; and he Is es-
| pccially cautious in urging new aud untried
| cnte psises upon them, conscious that they have
| now most valuable branches Of buslGess which
| they understand and which they can probably
| pursue lIo has sought the best scientific advice
with regard to supplying water to the arid regions
by urtesian wells with regard to tae preservation
aud restoration Of our forests and with regard TO
| the introduction Of new grasses and plants into
various sections of the county; he has organized
the statistical business ofthe Department, aud has
prepared the way for, accurate crop reports and
| price lists Of Europe, by means of the liberal up
preparation made recently by Congress for tuis
| purpose
| AND IN THE MANAGEMENT
| of all the divisions In his Department he has done
| much to bring II up TO the standard promised by
| those who laid It's foundation AMI expected by
| the great agricultural community which looks
upon 1t rs their branch of the government That
nh attempt to increase the duties Of this Depart
mcnt should be made Is not surprising. That Its
administrative work can be largely increased with
| advantage to the country, there can be no doubt
| aud that many important aud useful bureaus can
be- properly and naturally added TO 1t is evidently
the opinion Of those who in Congress have adyO-
| Gated its elevation. That we need an industrial
| department, with agriculture us the co ner- stone
Is evident, and at no time has the opportunity FOL
such elevation been so manifest rs IL is now, under
| the efficient aud business-like capacity with
| which the present Commissioner of Agriculture
| has entered upon his work.