The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-08-24
for the farmler.
SUGAR MAKING.
,,of. sveu..r,. Experiments with Sorghum.

The Wisconsin Legislature of last year, passed
n law authorizing a series of experiments at INC
governmental farm Of the State University AT
Madison. the appropriation being limited TO ex-
periments in making sorghum sugar, ana Pracil-
cally demonstrating the utility OF ebslage.
Prof W. A. Henry, Of the University, has inst
Submitted his report of the experiments to Gov
,rnor Rnsk, and the pamphlet is full of valuable
information touching the subject referred to;
The varieties Of cane grown for the various
trials included Amber, Early Amber, Kansas
Orange, Hedges Early Orange and Honduras
Prof Swcnson, the college chemist, superinten-
le,l the experiments and TO his untiTing zeal is
largely attributed the unqualified success which
followed Prof. Swenson in his report says:
s'The chief object of the experiments conduc-
ted during the past year has been TO demonstrate
the practicability of making sugar from cane
grown in this State. For this reaaon the work
has been carried on in thoroughly practical
manner Nv results are not based on theory
They do not show what might he done, but
what has been done. The amount of sugar OBJ
tanned is not deducted from the amount present
in the cane syrup, Int represents what has
actually been crystalized and separated as sugar
1t will he from the foregoing that the ex-
periments have proved cOnelusively that sor
ghum sugar can be made with profit IN
Wisconsin, and that the farmers Of that
State have an additional source of income
assured to them. After describing in detail the
machinery used and the process by which the
results were asccrtained, Prof. SwensOn says:
"a good yield of sugar may be obtained IL the
following rules strictly adhered to:
"First-Do not cut the cane until the seed be-
gins TO harden.
"second-Do not allow the cane to stand strip
ped in the field.
''Third-work up the cane as possible
after being cut.
"FOurth-Defecate the Juice as possi-
bic after leaving the mill.
'Fifth-For defecation use milk of lime, freed
from coarse particles by stTauing; add it gradu-
ally TO the juice with vigorous stirring, until a
piece Of red ltmus paper is turned TO pale pur-
pie.
"Sixth-Hcat the juice quickly 10 the boiling
point, rs shown by the swelling of the scum.
Observation-Disclosures the scum, after allowing
the juice to remain quiet for five minutes.
"Eighth-Draw off the clear juice. through an
aperture near the bottom of the defecator, into
the eyapOrating pan.
"Ninth-Add sulphnric acid to clear the juice
until piece Of blue litmus paper is Redeemed.
"Tenth-Eyaporate down until it reaches a
density of IS degrees X, or, If boiled in an open
pan, to a boiling temperature of 23I degrees F.
"Eleventh.-Place in a warm room TO crystal
izo, and in about week it will he ready to sep
arate.
The question whether cane sugar can he pro-
fitably manufactured from the Northern sugar.
cane is one of immense importance 10 this C0un-
try. That there is much evidence against it to
overcome is evident. There are men to whom
the barr idea seems ridiculous. In the face Of
these difficulties, however Prof SwenSon ven
ture, to state that if skillfully conducted, the
manufacture of sugar from this cane will ocr-
tainly pay. He has been unable 10 give definite
figures To the cost Of production, and advO-
Gates the system OF large central factories. Prof.
Swenson says, IN reply TO the question: Can the
farmer make his own sugar. "Nlost certainly
not if profit is to he considered. A farmer
might have his mill and make his own patent
procrSs flour, hut it would not pay him. His
business is to grow the wheat, while skilled men
attend TO the milling