The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-01-14
CANE CULTURE.
Convention of the Mississippi Valley Cane
Growers Association.

convention or the Mississippi valley Cane
Growers Association.
The Mississippi Valley Cane Growers
Association met I'm Convention at Polytechnic
Hall, st. Louis, Jan 5. A large number OF
delegates represented n wide territory. The
following were elected permanent officers:
Isaac Hedges, of st. Louis, President; Col.
Norman j. Coman, 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 few
years. Mr.. Hedges read lengthy communi
cation, touching in a general way upon the
great interest that is being taken in the Gull
tivation of sugar cane all over the North, and
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 a 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
series of experiments, on the subject of sugar
making from amber cane. An analysis OF
cane produced on different soils showed the
following results Old prair soil, 1928 per
cent. sugar; virgin prairie soil, 1913; timber
land 1887; Mississippi sand soil, 1913. The
effect of manure was shown to be detrimental
by the fact that manfred land gave percent.
age of 1899 sugar, while unmanured land pro-
duced 1887. general discussion was in:
Obliged in as to whether glucose is injurious
or not.
SECOND DAY.
Atsp. members of the Convention met ut
the Lacede Hotel and proceeded on visit to
Belcher's Sugar Refinery on the levee. A mum.
Der of samples of sugar were examined, and
the process of manufacture noted.
At II O'Clock the Association reassembled at
the Polytechnic and after a few remarks by
Prof. Wylie, of the Indiana State Agricultural
College, President Hodges 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
was listened to with especial interest 1t was
stated by a member from Louisiana that in the
South sulphurous acid is used before the de.
lection takes place. Prof Wigley urged tho
use of turmeric paper as n test to indicate the
amount of lime in the Juice an excess of lime
turning the yellow turmeric paper brown
Rearet' were read from Prof. Culbertson
of Nebraska, who stated that he was in full &C.
cord with objects of the convention, after
which a general discussion was engaged in MS
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
70 cents per tor. AS 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 ndultera-
ton is inVeit 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 adulteration
consists of starch sugar. This sugar is per-
fectly dry and white, and is mixed with cane
sugar to the extent of from 25 to so 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: