The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-11-05

SUGAR CANE IN TEE NORTHWEST.
The Progress. Being Made In the Development
Of This New Industry.
The Chicago Tribune publishes q
lengthy letter from st. Paul, giving
very elaborate review Of The rise and pro-
gress of tho amber sugar-cano product in
the Northwest. We mako the following
extracts;
Tho canc-growers Of Rice county, Min
ncsota, had built up quito largo local
trade in syrup at their county scat, Fari-
bault, when DR.. James Wilhelm, OF Ohio,
was invited here on the strength of rep
reservations that he had made specia;
study Of sugar chemistry, had invented
apparatus and devised processes for su-
gar-m aking, and of late years had been
very successful in handling sorghum
juices. The result Of his visit to Minne-
sot,, was tho formation CT stock company
at Faribault for establishing.
AN AMDER.cANE REFINERY,
combining field work with rifning prop
er. The establishment was located in a
leased building containing an engine,
which was leased for running tho cane
mill. The cost of fitting it up was about
$4,000. The mill, large one, when in
operation pours thrcc-inch stream Of
juice into tho receiving watts. From
these the juice is pumped into three de-
tacating tanks. each having a capacity of
tweL ty- five barrels, anG heated by steam
coils. From the defeating tanks tho Ii
quid, now at boiling heat, but changed
from its original greenish- white color to
nearly the limpidness Of water, Is dis
charged into the coagu!ating battery,
twenty by seven feet, capable Of reducing
five to six barrels IN hour to density Of
50 to "a degrees Baume. In the coagula-
ting battery the liquid passes over a
steam coil, beginning at the middle Of
one end and running lcngthwise, back
and forth, covering the bottom. AS the
liquid bolls, Its surface is thrown forward
upon an elevation, from which it flows
back in sloping channels at the sides,
wher> whatever impurities may appear
are skinned out. From the coagulating
battery the liquid, now Q scmisyrup.
passes INTO the clarifying pans, which dis.
charges 1t into tank below, when it il
lifted as wanted into the vacuum pan,
where it is finished at heat of 1870 to
$50 degrees F. Toe arrangement is lab
or-savipg throughout, tie Of craio2s Icing
automatic as tar as possible. THIS estab-
lishmcnt, as will endeavor to sho " here
after, solves the Northern cane problem,
at least SO far as proving that the cult.
Walton of amber cane and manufacture of
its products may be made in largo and
profitable industries.
Tho work of placing and fitting the ap.
paratus and machinery was not complct
ed in time to 1cgin operations with fresh.
ly.cut cane. Tho farmers delivered their
cane early in piles not calculated to pre-
serve it in best condition. Some had been
cut "a month Or more before it was ground,
and all was moro or less fermcnted.
Nevertheless, good results were obtained.
l sampled the refinery syrup on hot cakes
IN the curly morning, while there was yet
a suggestion Of frost in the air CT tho
breakfast room, and it bore the test adj
mirably. The flavor was delicate, and
the after-tasto purely saccharine. So far
as that experience goes, can confirm
what DIR. Wilhelm says as to tho quality
of his syrnp, and will let him speak for
himself: lie says: ':Thc process is
mine. We claim to take out tho vcgc-
table gummy matter; that our goods arc
pure in taste or flavor: md that VIC make
the finest syrup in America, chemically
pure. containing not less than 60 to 10
per cent. of sugar cane" Sugar cxpclt is
and grOccrs will understand what this
claim means. It means that the refined
molasscs of amber cane IS a true sylup,
with sugar body,-an article which for
many years has rarely been seen in tho
trade.
WILL 1T PAY TIE CANE GROWERS?
I think so. The highest estimate of
the price of producing the cane, includ-
ing eight miles Of hauling, and every de-
tail, from the purchase of the seed and
preparation Of the ground to the unload
ing OF the cut, topped and stripped cano
is $3.50 per acre. Many cultivators es-
innate tho cost much lower. The cost of
seed need not exceed so cents an aero.
The cultivation is about the same as for
corn, except that the ground should be
freshly prepared at planting time, and ex-
traordlnary care is needed to protect the
plant from weeds when it first appears
and until it il thirty inches high-until
which time it i, a slow grower. After
that, it will take care of itself, AMI grows
very rapidly. To save hard labor.
the cane should he planted
u check rows: and, at the proper time for
thinning. not more than five stocks should
be LETT IN each hill. The best soil for the
cane is sandy loan. Heavy, rank or
cold soil, or fresh manure, will lessen tho
saccharine development. Tho cane n.y.
bridlzcs readily with miliet, broom-corn,
and all tho members of tho tribe of sweet
'uiced grasses; and this should he guard
Cd against in choosing seed and locating
plantations. Order your machinery so
US to have no delay in working tho cane
as soon as it is ready to be cut. Using
horse power and fire for heating tho mill,
firm a IN MANA ofo for r>ro.>orI,, l,acll,.,.