Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-01-19
CANE CULTURE.
Convention Of tho Mississippi Valley Cane
Growers' Association.

Convention Of tho Mississippi Valley Cane
Growers' Association.
The Mississippi Valley Cane Growers,
Association met in Convention at Polytechnic
Hall, st. Louis, Jan. 5. A large number Oh
delegates represented a wide territory. The
following were elected permaas1t officers:
Isaac Hedges, of St Louis, President; Col
Norman j. Colman, Corresponding Secretary;
F. X. Gillespie, Recording Secretary. Prof.
Bishop gave some interesting statistics re-
garding the manufacture of sugar in the
North, showing that wonderful progress in
that direction has been made in the past rev
years Mr.. Hedges read a lengthy commun1-
cation. touching in general way upon the
great interest that is being taken in the cul-
tivation of sugar cane all over the North, ana
alluded to the generosity of Southern growers
in coming forward and aiding in every man
ner the production in the North. The Secre-
tary of the Louisiana Cane Growers Associa-
ton entertained the Convention with some
Interesting facts concerning the growth OF
cane in hisState; Mr.. Nicoll, of the same asso-
ton, following with some remarks on the re-
suit of experiments with Northern cane in
Southern territory. Prof. Henry made few
remarks touching upon cane culture, after
which reports from different States were read,
the Convention then taking into considera-
ton the advisability of sending delegates to
represent them in the National Convention,
assembling at that city on the 10th inst.
Prof Scoville delivered very practical ad
dress, in which he detailed the results of q
series of experiments n the subject of sugar
making from amber cane. An analysis of
cane produced on different soils showed the
following results: Old prairie soil, ll.2s per
cent sugar; virgin prairie soil, 1878; timber
land, 1857; Mississippi sand soil. 1873. The
effect of manure was shown to be detrimental
by the fact that MANFRED land gave percent
age of 80 sugar, while unmanured land pro-
duced 1881. A general discussion was in:
dulged in as to whether glucose Is injurious
or not.
SECOND DAY.
At p. m.members of the Convention met at
the Laclede Hotel and proceeded on visit to
Belcher's Sugar Refinery on the levee. A num-
Der of samples of sugar were examined, and
the process of manufacture noted.
At IL O'Clock the Association reassembled at
the Polytechnic and after few remarks by
Prof. Wylie, of the Indiana State Agricultural
College, President Hedges introduced Mr.. G.
Bozarth, of Cedar Falls, Iowa one of the larg
est cane growers in his State, having cultiva-
ted over 100 acres of amber cane each year for
the last twenty, and his experience in the
practical management of the sorghum plant
"
stated by a member from Louisiana that in the
South sulphurous acid is used before the de-
lection takes place. Prof Wigley urged the
use of turmeric paper as a test to indicate the
amount of lime in the juice, an excess of lime
turning the yellow turmeric paper brown.
R"crets were read from Prof. Culbertson
of Nebraska, who stated that he was in full ac-
cord with objects of the convention, after
which general discussion was engaged in az
to the uses to which the cane bagasse may be
put 1t has for years been used in the manu-
facture of paper, and for that purpose sold for
is cents per ton. AS a food for stock it also
has considerable. value, especially when the
leaves are not stripped. In many parts of
the country it is used as fuel with first class
results, and a Kansas gentleman thought it
has great future as material for mattresses.
Prof. Wiley, of Indiana, spoke of the subject
of sugar authorizations. Water is one of the
principal of these and forms 1-2 to 10 per cent.
of many sugars. Another form of adultera-
ton is invert sugar. This kind of sugar diff
fers from glucose, and may be produced in
various ways. 1t does not crystalize, and is
very difficult to distinguish. A third, and
perhaps the most important adulteratfon,
consists of starch sugar. This sugar is per-
fectly dry and white, and fs mixed with cane
sugar to the extent of from Is to 50 per cent.
Mr.. Thombs, by request. gave the following
figures as to the cost per day of manufactur-
ing 100 tons of cane, upon the basis of 467 cane
juice: