The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-16
AMBER SUGAR CANE.

AAGc1Co0, A1Ou4 VIC pAs1AtAuS i11u 1uo CuAeS'0e-
ing of the cane to the production of the syrup
and sugar.
He complied with the request, and copy
of his pamphlet has been received. It con-
tains much valuable information, not only
on the most approved method of producing
the cane but on the manner of manufactur-
ing sugar and syrup. The author states,
among other things, that the past season
has been unfavorable tor production of
good crop of cane. After the rains which
succeeded the drouth in the month Of Au-
gust the stalks of cane tooka second growth
and many suckers shot out from one or
more joints. These drew heavily from the
sap in the stalks and diminished the amount
of saccharine matter they contained. The
best results were reached when these suck
ers were broken off while they were quite
small. The best seasons for this crop are
those that favor continuous growth from the
period of termination till the stalks are ripe.
The juice of amber cane contains both
grape and cane sugar. In the early stages
Of the growth of the stalks grape sugar pre-
dominates. AS they approach maturity the
the proportion of cane sugar increases
Samples of juice extracted from the stalks
about the middle of August yielded only
SIS per cent. of cane sugar. A few days
later, when the bloom was somewhat adj
vanced, the juice of the stalks, when treated,
produced IT. per cent. of cane sugar. The
largest percentage of sugar obtained at
any season of the year was 1876. The cane
worked up at the refinery was raised by
about twenty five farmers. Some was well
cultivated and harvested, and much of it
was not. The average Of the entire lot was
8 per cent. Each gallon of molasses yield
ed six pounds of granulated sugar.
During the past year about eight thous-
and acres of amber sugar-cane have been
raised in the state of Minnesota, The larger
part of the product has been worked up by
means of small crushing mills and open
fire evaporators, and where these have been
employed the results have been far more
satisfactory. A crude syrup for use on the
farm can be made in this way, but it can
not be disposed of in the general market.
To make good commercial article of syrup
or sugar, it is necessary to employ vacuum
pan and various appliances for freeing the
juice from the stalks heavy crushing mills
must be employed. With some exceptions
the most satisfactory results are obtained in
crushing the cane and reducing and REIN
ing the juice in some large establishments
centrally located.
DR.. Wilhelm makes the following sug-
gestions in relation to the planting and cul-
hvation of the crop: ''Select sandy loan
soil, we'll drained; let be prairie or timber,
the result will be the same. In the spring,
as soon as the ground is warm enough,
break it up and prepare it for immediate
planting. After thorough narrowing, drill
in your seed with good drill, such as we
soon select. Set your drill SO as to plant
one seed every ten or twelve inches. Some
prefer check rows and hills. prefer drills,
as have found the best results and largest
yields. AS soon as the cane makes it's ap-
pearance above the ground run over it with
a harrow; knock out some of the teeth so as
to straddle the row. After that go to
work with O good cultiyator or horse pillow,
and push the cultivation to force the growth
from the start and hasten the maturity of
the product; by so doing you kill out the
weeds, get your cane out of frOst's harm
and begin to work it up the last week in Au-
gust, and have your work all done before
freezing weather comes on. A slight frost
does not injure the cano. unless it is quite
green, but when near maturity no bad ef-
feet is perceptible. Be sure to observe
when the grain is shooting into maturity;
take off all the suckers. 1t may cause lit
tie more labor, but your yield will be vastly
greater in tons and gallons, so you will be
amply repaid in the aggregate. urge this
as necessity if good results are desired. I
have had grand results when we'll suckered
and quite poor yield when let alone.
"A great many mistakes have been made
in selecting seed for planting. We hnve
given this question close study and will be
more particular in the future in the quality
of the seed planted. We have known in
stances where hybridized and immature
seed was planted, the yield was about one
hundred gallons per acre, and alongside Of
it, in the same soil, pure seed produced
near two hundred gallons per acre"