The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-01-12
SORGHUM.
convsuFlos A sAmr Louls.
Extracts From the Vafisus Papers and
enoeohes.

The interest 10 sorghum growing is on the
increase in Kansas. Following the State
meeting at Sterling two weeks since. we
have q large convention at st. Louis, OF
which we print the following:
President Hedges said that history will
show that ut the end Of twenty-five years
after the introduction of the cane into Louis
lana, they were unable to make sugar that
for excellence would compare with these
samples from our simple works Of the north.
The facts are that although they had the
best skill among the Jesuit scholars Of that
day, from the years 1881 to 1885, repeated ef-
forts and failures occurred; that such dis
couragements were encountered that their
efforts were entirely suspended for many
years at time. At the latter date, however,
. sufficient measure of success was obtained
to warrant Its continued production.
We are now in our minority in this busi-
ness, and need their paternal teaching and
ripe experience, while we can reciprocate
with them in assisting to maintain that pro-
lection and fostering care that is due us,
both from our general government and State
institutions.
The industry has no parallel among all our
industrial pursuits. The product, as may be
seen from these samples, by representatives
that are here present from nearly three
fourths Of the great agricultural portions OF
the States. is not product like wheat, corn,
CO ton or stock Of any kind, susceptible Of
being shipped abroad in the bulk form, but
must be manufactured close to the field
where il is grown. This fills our country
with manufactures, and our cities with ma
chine shops to supply our own people with
that which is now largely the product Of the
cheap slave lsbor-or a coolie system little
Octtcr--of foreign countries who have the
additional advantages OF climate and soil
that produces far more abundant crop Of
almost Spontaneous reproduction.
Prof. Swenson, chemist Of the Wisconsin
State university, gave the following rules for
cane growing
/. Do not cut the cane until the seed be-
gins TO harden.
2. Do not allow the cane to stand stripped
in, the field.
va. Work up the cane as soon as possible
| after being cut.
4. Delicate the juice as soon as possible
after leaving the mill.
5. For DELEGATION, use milk Of lime, freed
from coarse particles by straining, and add
it gradually to the juice with vigorous stir
| ring, until litmus paper is turned to pale
purple
6. Heat the juice quickly to the boiling
point, rs shown by the swelling and break
ing of the scum.
Z. Remove the scum, after allowing the
juice to remain quiet for five minutes.
5. Draw off the clear juice through an ap-
erture near the bottom Of the defecator into
the evaporsting pan.
9. Add sulphuric acid to the clear juice
until piece OF blue Iitmus paper is redden-
ed.
10. Boil the juice down as quickly as pos
sible, removing the scum from the surface OF
| the liquid.
If conducted in an open pan, it should be
boiled down until it boils, at about 1874 . +.
During the last part of the boiling it should
be stirred vigorously with paddle to pre-
vent searching. If using vacuum pan,
the boiling in the open pan should be stop-
when the syrup has acquired q. density OF
about zoe X. 1t should then be transferred
| to the vacuum pan, and concentrated until IL
reaches a density of about As X. 1t is then
placed in warm place to crystalize, and
then in about = week it is ready to separate.
The molasses may again be concentrated,
and further yield OF sugar may be obtain
cd.
Prof. Scoville, Of Illinois, read paper on
sorghum sugar, going into chemical and an
alytieal details and processes Of manufac-
ture, in an interesting manner, giving as q
result of the cultivation of one acre Of cane
| the following:
GOO pounds of sugar at eight cents per
| pound ........... T1o W
| So gallons of molasses ut forty cents