The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-12

The Early Amber stalk was 80 small that 1t did
not yield juice enough to test the experiment..
The chemist writes me when sending the an
alysis, "you will observe the marked difference
in tops and butts Of the Mastodon; also the very
great difference between the Imphee and others
in sucrose or crystalizable sugar, owing I think
to the comparative immaturity Of the cane. This
analysis corroborates my former experiments
with 219 specimens Of cane that I have examined
this fall"
In reply to this report I wrote and asked, which
he considered the most valuable OF these varie-
ties Of cane2 ,... sg so, ~
He answered, "there is practically very little
choice between them. About as much syrup or
sugar can BIZ made from ten tons Of one kind OF
as from another, but whichever cane you plant,
it is Of the EXTREMIST importance that it be work
ed up at the proper time. Obviously it is more
profitable to grow o cane that would give
70 tons to the acre than one that would only give
FIVE or ten. The early amber is, perhaps, o ia
vorite cane because it natures and yields lucra-
lively as far north as Minnesota" -.
In another portion Of this reply, the chemist
says: II lind that in every kind Of cane the
amount Of glucose or uncrystalizable sugar ls
very large early in the season, aud at that time
the amount Of sucrose or sugar Is very small. AS
the season advances the former diminishes and
the latter increases. The minimum OF glucose,
however, is not rendered exactly when the max
lluuu VI huCIOSc hppCuloy u pIdCllCdhy %
nearly 80. And at that particular time there ls
no trouble in making good sugar from any kind
Of cane. Indeed l made good sugar from the
juice Of the mastodon stalk you sent me.
wrote again asking which cane / should plant
to derive the greater net yield.
The chemist replied, 81 would plant that cane
that would give me- the greatest weight Of cane
from an acre, for the amount of sugar or syrup
you obtain will depend very nearly upon the
49, n,,, or oo,,a r, y,ot1, I'M ,,rty,Hod n ~ tC0rk.
ed up at the proper time. The exhaustion OF the
soil will depend almost exactly upon the amount
of cane taken from the land, put by returning
the begasse 10 the soil through the manure heap,
the exhaustion will be slight. Sugar, you know,
is composed wholly Of atmospheric constituents
and does not come from the SOIL"
l again replied to this letter and asked what
was the ''proper tim" for working up the cane,
and submitted my reason for preferring one time
to another.
The chemist replied, "the proper time for
making syrup is when the aggregate Of bolh
kinds of sugar-sucrose and glucose-is at its
maximum; while for making sugar the proper
time will be when the amount of sucrose is at its
maximum, and the amount Of glucose at its
minimum. For practical purposes these times
may be one in the development Of the plant,
evidenced by the perfect hardening OF the seed
in the first head, and the full development OF
heads from shoots starting from the upper joints
Of the stalks. I also find that the different varie-
ties maintain this condition Of maximum for
several weeks, and that there is abundant time
for working up the crops. Nothing is gained
and there is great risk in cutting any length OF
time before grinding: or course the tempera-
ture will have much to do with it. II it we're
very cold, no injury would result; otherwise the
cane might be injured. I think your plan Of
stripping, topping, cutting and grinding in rapid
succession, the proper ONE
Much more was written by the agricultural
chemist at Washington, which I doubt net, would
be interesting reading for the farmers Of South
Carolina, but have already spun out my ar 11;.s
to too great q length, and will conclude 1t with
the following letter written me by the Commits
sioner Of Agriculture from Chicago on the 23rd
October:
Ny DEAR CoL:-Appreciating the interest you
take in all matters pertaining to the advancement
of agriculture, and knowing that you will be glad
to learn of anything new in the manufacture OF
sugar, l take pleasure in acquainting you with
the results Of q recent trip made through the
West inspecting the sugar boiling establishments
of that section. From information thus obtained
and from trustworthy reports, I am enabled to
state that we are now making sugar in many
places in the Mississippi valley from Texas to
northern Minnesota. I have found successful
operations everywhere. At Crystal Lake, Ill.,, Is
the largest mill which is being managed by
Messrs. Russell & Co., and they now have ready
for shipment to this market a car load of first
class sugar and will have another car load ready
within a few days, beside having more in sight
and ready for the centrifugal; and all this OBJ
tanned under adverse circumstances The stalks
from which this was made were no longer, and,
perhaps, not so large IS those I saw growing on
your sons place; but they were full of pure sac
charine juice, az were those grown inSouth Caro-
lima. Surely the question of the production Of
our own sugar Is settled beyond any doubt.
tural harness.
VIM. G.. LEDUc,
Com. Of Ayr.
Apologizing for monopolizing 10 much Of your