The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-01-29
AMBER CANE GROWERS,
PROGRESS or THE NEW INDUSTRY
IN THE NORTH WEST.

| IN 1dE NOh1d WENT.
| From the st. Paul Daily Globe, Jan. 23.(
The Minnesota Cane Growers association
met Yesterday forenoon in one of the halls
of the market house at Minneapolis, and
Mr.. G. F. Miller, of Dundss, read an essay
on sugar machinery and apparatus for the
farm. These topics were further discussed
by Gen. LIE Due, the United States commits
sioner of agriculture, Hon. Seth L. Kenney,
president of the association, Hon. Jared
Benson, Mr.. Miller and others.
| During the recess, and before the opening
| of the afternoon session, the
| EXHIBITION OF AMBER CANE PRODUCTS
attracted the attention of hundreds of visi-
tors. Prominent in the exhibition, by reason
of its quantity, but also worthy of attention
by reason of its quality, was the sugar OK
hibit from Mr.. Kenney's sugar works at
Morristown. He had ON exhibition five
barrels of dry raw sugar, with samples
| showing the varying results of differing
conditions of productions. The five barrels
was all, it was said. from the large tank into
which most of his sirup of this year was
run. The equalization is beautiful and
nearly uniform, and this sugar would COM
mand in any market the highest price of raw
sugars. There was one sample of eccentric
results in few pounds of dry, hard, fine
grained and nearly white sugar, but the
large grained, amber colored sugar which
filled the barrels was most convincing of all.
1t completed the proof, if anything were
lacking, that the amber cane is q true sugar
cane.
The numerous other exhibitors, too many
to be named, though showing only small
samples, made up an interesting and in
structive exhibit. There were sirups of all
degrees of density, from light to heavy, and
| from transparent, bright colored, to Opaque
| and almost black, while mush or granulating
sirup was shown from that depositing
a small percentage of sugar to samples
which appeared 10 be nearly
numerous and most of them very fine in ap-
pearance and taste A part of Mr.. Kenney' g
| sugar and several samples from other ex-
hibitors were noticed, in which the raw or
vegetable taste was remarkably slight. The
exhibitions represent several points in
Northwest Wisconsin and nearly all parts
N0AVAhA 0AO 0OuLACAA NAAAAC6OSos AoA0A
in connection with the large attendance of
cane growers and the great interest mani
tested, they show that sugar cane growing is
already an important matter among the
farmers of the Northwest.
In the afternoon session the first subject
of discussion was the
ROTATION OF SEED,
the general testimoney being in favor of ex-
changing seed every two or three years with
growers of about the latitude of St. Louis.
Those who gave their experiences were A. J..
Whitney of Dodge Center, Ditus Day of Farm
ington, James Wiley of Long Lake, and
Messrs. Kenney and Miller. Mr.. Whiting,
with amber cane seed grown in Missouri,
and Mr. Day, with seed grown in Kansas,
alongside of cane from third and fourth
years seed of Minnesota, had noticed 4
large difference in the size of the cane and
yield of syrup in favor of tho Southern seed,
while the time of maturing was only few
days in favor of the Minnesota seed. Mr.
Day advised planting part Minnesota seed,
SO to have longer season of cutting aud
grinding. MIR. Wiley, who claimed to have
helped cultivate the first amber cane in Min
nesota, from seed brought from Indiana,
noticed falling of in syrup in three years
from 800 gallons an acre to 125 gallons,
while in 1873 his yield was brought up 10
213 gallons an acre by using fresh seed from
Indiana. The seed from this resulted in 1870
in only 223 gallons an acre, yet he consid-
cred the season a favorable one. Mr..
Kenney thought tue first and second
| years seed produced IN Minnesota good
enough. Another grower whose name was
| not given succeeded in demonstrating prob
| ability that the decrease in cane and syrup
Yield from Minnesota seed results from care
lessness in selecting seed-the earliest ripe,
generally from poorest stalk growth, being
preferred because of it's color. But the ss-
sociation finally
RcSolped, That early amber cane seed grown
in the latitude of st. Louis is the best seed
for planting in Minnesota for two years.
The question of
SOIL AND CONDITION OF SOIL
best adapted to cane growing was irregularly
discussed. MIR. Day and others related re-
suits where cane was grown on heavily
manured, fresh manured, or naturally very
rich soil, showing that there was a larger
percentage and more obstinate admixture of
unsaccbarine substances in the juice, be-
cause of the too rich soil. The general opinion
WAS expressed in the adoption of the follow
ing resolution:
Resolped, That the best soil On which to
plant the amber cane is good sandy loan, we'll
fertilized and drained. but freshly manured
WHEN TO PLANT
was next discussed, by Messrs. Kenney,
Jared Benson, of Auoka; w. A. Sampson, of
Excelsior; Mr. Wood, of River Falls, Wis:
Mr.. Levan, of Excelsior; Mr., Kennedy, of
Minnesota City; Mr.. Wiley, Jacob Hirsch,
Long Lake; G. W. Farmer, of Spring Valley;
Mr.. Miller and Clinton Bozart, of Clinton
Falls, Iowa. The general opinion appeared
to be in favor of planting quite as early as
| the ground is warmed, aud incidental to the
discussion the manner of preparing the
ground and planting was talked of. Mr..
Wood told of repeated instances in his cx-
perience where volunteer cane. the seed of
| which had lain in the ground oil winter, was
| largely in advance of planted cane early
IN the next season. 1t was said that cane
frosted would recover and grow like corn.
| Others thought there would be no advantage
In planting before the ground is warm and
growing weather has set in. Mr..
Hirsch would plant on fresh plowed ground,
but most of the others favored fall plowing,
thorough narrowing in the spring, and, ex-
cept on clayey soils or during wet spell,
that the cane hills should be pressed down
with the foot or rolled. Mr. Bozart had ex-
perimentaily tested and compared fall and
spring plowing with results two to ono in
favor of fall plowing. The conclusion was
a. follows:
| RESOLVED, That the amber cane should he
planted as early as it is possible to work the
ground properly, avoiding late frosts.
| HOW TO CULTIVATE.
Col. Coleman, of St. Louis, epitomiZed his
advice in the expression, "Cultivate as you
do corn Mr.. Champion, of Hastings, bad
14s gallons of syrup from half an acre OF
cane He planted shallow, hoed out the
early weeds and cultivated with shovel
plow until the plants began to head, after
which he let them alone, they being entirely
free from weeds. Mr.. Wiley had 223 gal
Ions of syrup to the acre from new timber
land clearing, and had only had to put in
seven or eight days to kill out the fire weeds
from the 10 to IL acres. He took a new
clearing for his cane each year to save labor
in fighting weeds.
Col. Coleman said the secret of best posi-
bic results was in keeping the cane ground
free of weeds. On this account Mr.. Day
| favored planting the same ground to cane