The National tribune., 1882-11-30
DIR. LORINGS REPORT.
The work Of the Agricultural Department - Some
Interesting Statistics.

AAe N1Th OF vac AEFiCliIugM department Sotnc
Interesting Statistics.
Hon. George 3. Loring Commissioner of
agriculture, has submitted his annual report
to the President The several divisions of his
Department are shown to be in excellent condi-
tion, and the work that has engaged their at
tenttOn during the year IS set forth. The En-
tomological Division has pursued investigations
into the habits of many insects affecting the
principal staples, and much valuable informs-
ton has been obtained. Two and half million
packages of seed have been distributed and
100000 copies Of special reports printed by the
Department. The Statistical Division estimates
the following as tho yield of 1882: Corn, ,635,-
100000 bushels; wheat 510,0000O0 bushels;
oats, 470,0O0,000 bushels; barley, 45,000,000
bushels; rye, 2O0O0,OOO bushels, and buck
wheat. 100000 bushels. The Improvement
in the methods of collecting statistical infor-
nation, since the appointment of special statis-
teal agents in England aud this country, is
noted The Chemical Division has made many
analyses Of grasses, Soils waters, &c, though
The work of the division has been devoted
largely to the investigation of the
sUGAR-PRoDUCING QUALITIES
Of sorghum and other plants. Referring to this
and previous work in this direction, the Com
missioner says: "At the request of the chemist
of the Department, l submitted the sorghum
analyses and work of his division to the Ma
tional Academy Of Sciences on tho Both of July
last for investigation By that body. A commit
tee appointed for that purpose entered upon
lheiT work with great zeal and energy, and
lheir report, which was laid before me, was on
July 2lst withdrawn formally by the secretary
of the academy for such action as the academy
may deem necessary On the 18th Of NOyeUl-
Der current, the president Of the academy pre-
sented to ne the final report Of that institution,
. long and elaborate document, contsning a
review Of the history Of the sorghum industry
for twenty-five years; a statement of the scien-
tic investigations made in this country and in
Europe into the quality OF sorghum and maize
IS sugar-producing plants; careful examina-
ton of the chemical work Of the Department;
a large volume Of testimony received from sor-
ghum sugar manufacturers and certain sug-
gestions with regard to future investigations,
and the work Of the Department. This report
is evidently
TIE RESULT OF INFINITE CARE
and has been subjected to careful! revision, and
I trust it viii be found valuable text
book for those engaged in tho sorghum sugar
industry As a review Of the successes and
failures which have attended this industry, it
IS invaluable A a guide to those who are en-
gaged in it, it contains all the important re-
suits that have been thus far obtained by the
chemist in his laboratory and the manufacturer
ia his mill. This report, together with most
voluminous appendix making an interesting
mass of matter, (ar too large to be inclosad in
the annual volume Of the Department for this
year. viii be issued at an carly day IS a special
publication. The business of
MANUFACTURING SUGAR
from sorghum 1T the Department having failed
in 1881, and having furnished disc2uTagcment
to those engaged in it, I have called upon the
sorghum manufacturers themselves for such in
formation as they could furnish III an accurate
manner Gor the benefit OF the industry they
represent ] have also made the same request
Of the manufacturers Of sugar from beets.
have received assurances from nearly hun
drcd manufacturers that they viii contribute
TO this work, and feel confident that shall re-
ccive in this way great amount of valuable in
formation / nave endeavored, from the begin
ming Of my connection with the Department, so
to conduct the work performed here as part of
that interesting investigation into the value OF
sorghum uow going on in the field of the
farmer and the mill of the manufacturer and
the
LABORATORY OF THE CHEMIsT
as to securs for what appears to be a growing
industry all the information which unpreju-