The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-03-02
Sugar Cane. Sorghum and Corn Cultivation
in California.


We extract from the report Of Professor E
w. Hilgard, to the Board of Regents Of the
State University, copy of which has been
sent to us, the following in reference. to the
cultivation Of sugar cane, sorghum and corn,
for sugar-making purposes:
The continued interest on the subject Of
sugar production at home, as well as the de-
sire for a greater Investigation Of crops, has
induced numerous experiments in the growing
of sugar-producing plants in the past season.
This has especially been the casein the upper
San Joaquin Valley, Kern, Tulare, and Fresno
Counties. The cold, fcggy summer has been a
drawback to the development OF the saccharine
Juices, and the results have probably been as
favorable as they are likely TO be. No samples
of sugar cane have been sent for examination,
bnt the reports thus far received have been en-
couraging. Whether the early frosts expert
enced this season have injured the cane, l am
not informed.
Samples Of sorghum were received from
Bakersfield, Kern County, from Mr.. j. W. A..
Brooks, Secretary of the Kern County I'm
provement Association, under whose auspices
seed was distributed last spring. The results
of the tests are given in the following table.
No. Early Amber, from Bakersfield, was
considerably wited when worked: Received
October 5, 1850.
Nos. 2 and B. The Imphee and Minnesota
Amber cane, from Bakersfield, were rather
wilted, but not so dry as No. /. Received No
vember II $500.
No. 4. The Amber from University grounds,
was worked the same day it was cut-Novem-
Der l6, 1880.
No. 5. Cuzco corn, grown by Mr.. Chabot, of
Fruit Vale, near Oakland. Fresh, and very
succulent Received in October, lss0.
No I-EarIy Amber. from Bakersfield; specific grav-
ity Of juice, lOSs solid contents in Juice ss per
centage OF cane sugar, 1915; purity,coehieent 6iS
No 2.-Imphee, from Bakersfield; specie gravity Of
Juice 1O5; solid contents in juice LOO; percentage OF
cane sugar, $50; purity-coefhcient $50
No. 3.-Dark Early Minnesota Amber, from Bakers
field: specific gravity Of juice. iiOO; solid contents in
Juice slGo percentage of cane sugar l4S puriyeoef
No i~Eariy Amber, University Grounds; specific
gravity OF juice O solid contents In Juice 1880 per
centage of cane sugar 1851; purity eo-eeient 'b39
Juice 1850; solid contents in juice 1a6I percentage
Of cane sugar, 7.O5i purity-coeficient, 64.oO
1t appears from the above table That the
Early Amber Cane, even in the past untavor
able season, has, in Kern County, attained
sugar percentage almost equal to the average
Of Louisiana sugar cane, with satisfactory
purity coefficient, between rs and IL ; and even
in the cool bay climate, and under the summer
fogs of the Golden Gate, it has reached thir-
teen and two-thirds per cent, with an equally
HOtI l-NuGhlNlOhts AhO Oei ~
nesota Amber has rather too low purity-co-
efficient for sugar making-at least at the time
when tested. 1t seemed little past the best
condition.
The Imphee is very far inferior to the Early
Amber, and, as the sample stood, would not
even have made very good syrup.
The stalk of the Cuzco corn, though having
a somewhat higher purity ooeihcient than the
Imphee and Dark Amber, would also serve for
syrup only and considering its low percent
age in the juice, and smaller production on the
same area, there can be no reason to prefer 1t
to the Amber Cane. The latter seems there
fore decidedly the crop to select for sugar
making. unless, indeed, the true sugar cane
should yield Il much better result than there is
reason to anticipate-c considering experience
in the Southern United States. The rapid
growth and early maturity of the Early Am
Der alone recommend it highly, as against the
tardy maturity and frequent damage from frost
that proverbialy render the culture of the true
sugar cane in Louisiana matter of thirteen
months work, and very liable to accident
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