The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-29
Homemade Sugar.

The only homemade sugar with which
our people are familiar is the maple, and
this is a favorite with all classes Doth on
farms and in the city. But the manufac-
ture is expensive and the product per
acre too small to render it source of
profit. 1t is made because sap flowing
takes place at period when the farmer
is not busy with Ills ordinary work, and
he produces it usually as a luxury for
his own family. This is why so little
genuine maple sugar finds its way TO the
market.
But the sugar of common use has be
come one Of the prime necessities of life,
and no longer holds a rank among luxu-
ries. Its consumption is enormous; the
people OF the United States have paid
neatly the entire gold and silver product
of the country to purchase their sugar.
Whatever looks, therefore, to the cheaper
ing of this commodity should interest
the public. A circular just issued by
the Commissioners of Agriculture upon
the manufacture Of sugar from maize and
sorghum presents facts, of interests not
alone 10 the farmers, but to every one
who desires the development Of the re-
sources of the country. Experiments
by professor Collier, chemist Of the de-
partment, have established the fact "that
there exists no difficulty in making from
either corn or sorghum first-rate quail
ity of sugar, which will compare favora-
bly, with the best product from the sugar
cane grown in the most favored localities"
BE then gives some facts in regard TO the
nature of the experiments made and the
quantity produced. @-.. .s .
The point of chief interest to our farm
ers is that sugar can be made from the
cornstalk after the corn has been gather
ed, thus making two crops instead of one
This gives it advantages over sorghum
and beets, which must be grown solely
for consumption IN sugar manufacture.
1t it should prove that the stalk has a
greater value before than after the COM
plete hardening of the corn, then the
choice would be between losing the val
ue in the corn or In the stalk, though III
the former case the grain could be very
probably used for canning. Corn can
be grown on almost every tiIlable acre OF
northern territory, the poorer qualities Of
land producing enough for a valuable
sugar crop, though the best only sufices
for profit upon the grain. '!
On the point of profitableness the cir
cular is definite and satisfactory in its
information. Thus farmer in Minneso-
ia, in the season of 1878, which was not
. good one with him for corn, produced
one hundred and sixty gallons Of syrup
to the acre, at a cost of twenty-six cents
per gallon when the cane was purchased.
but considerably less when raised by the
manufacturer. Experiments have been
tried in Illinois, Michigan and Missouri
with satisfactory success. The process
1oF manufacture adopted by the depart
ment is that in use by Mr.. Stewart of
1Pcnnsy lvanla, and is very cheap. Mr..
stewart asserts that corn is richer in su-
gar OF the true cane type than any othe,
plant that grows in Louisiana; that a
yield OF sugar per acre from q single
crop is from two thousand to three thou.
sand pounds, or equal to the best acreage
from the cane and beet, and at one halt
the expense, the maximum of cost being
three cents per pound, including seed.
cultivation, harvesting, manufacture. coat
of materials, and interest on machinery.
The value or the discovery lies In the
fact that the machinery is so cheap that
any farmer can buy it and the process SO
simple that no chemical knowledge is
needed for it's successful operation: AS
the manufacture extends it will of course
reach greater excellence, and processes