ontaining the various
kinds of true sugar cane, and of sorghum or Chinese sugar cane.

"By hybridizing and other methods, we are striving to increase the
hardiness of the former and the crystallizing-sugar product of the
latter. By the results already obtained we are encouraged to believe,
that five years hence, we shall have produced a sugar-cane equal to the
best, that may be grown with much profit, as far north as St. Louis.

"Small plots of ground have also been devoted to growing tea, peppers,
sage, hops, ginseng and other medicinal plants, with such excellent
results, that no doubt they will soon develop into profitable ventures.

"The ten acres planted to broom-corn, have produced the necessary
material with which to keep the workers in the broom and brush factory
profitably employed.

"In the line of fibre plants, other than the cotton crop before
mentioned; we have grown enough hemp and flax, to supply the needs of
our rope and twine works. In 'bromelia fibrista,' a new fibre plant, we
find a product that bids fair to rival silk in producing a fabric of
fine, smooth, beautiful texture.

"In addition to the foregoing, several swampy plots have been planted to
willow, and as a consequence, a growing basket-weaving industry has been
developed.

"At the very beginning of our work here, while I was preparing to stock
the seed beds in the nursery, one of our co-operators, a very
intelligent and observing young man, who had been railroading in Mexico
for two years previous to his joining our colony, called my attention to
the Mexican quince. So strongly did he assert his belief that the fruit
would thrive at Solaris, that I soon became a convert to his enthusiasm.
With the young man for a guide, two weeks later we were on the way to
Mexico; returning shortly, with enough three-year-old nursery stock, to
plant one hundred acres. In addition, we secured the seed for 500,000
young plants. Since that time, our plantation of quince bushes has grown
finely.

"Last year we gathered the first crop. Not a large one--perhaps, from
fifteen to twenty-five quinces from each clump of bushes. As the fruit
was large and the bushes thickly planted, the yield was about one
hundred crates to the acre. An aggregate of ten thousand crates for the
entire crop. We have every reason to believe, that the crop this year
will be double that amount.

"Owing to the fact that this quince thrives best on the elevated table
lands of Mexico