Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-01-11
Amber Cane in New York.

biHDti tdHt III New tOThs
A correspondent of the Husbandman
gives Mr.. Little's experience with am
Der cane, manner of planting and car
ing for during the season. We quote
a portion of C.'s letter:
The question of fuel for evaporating
seemed also to have met with very
economical solution, the crushed cane
or bsgasse being the only material
used. What was needed for that pur-
pose was spread about on the ground
and partially dried, and afterwards
gathered up and shoveled into the arch
with a pitchfork from time to time "a
occasion required. The arch was con
structed with special reference to burn
ing that kind of fuel, and there was no
more trouble connected with il than in
running steam saw mill with sawdust.
But small portion of the refuse was
needed to do the boiling, and the re-
mainder would doubtless be ample to
furnish steam to do the crushing, in
which case it could he done cheaper
and more rapidly than by the use Of
horses. For it should be remembered
that anywhere animals work on a
sweep of ordinary length, at least one
third of the power is wasted by draw
ing against the machine. And again,
q cane mill having no balance wheel or
accumulated force in parts that move
faster than the rest, it is impossible to
keep a steady motion and uniform
pressure with teams working in q small
circle. But of course it is a question
of how much one is able or willing to
put into machinery, that will deter
mine whether steam or horse shall
furnish the power. And, by the way,
steam saw mill that has an arch large
enough to burn green sawdust would
probably have no difficulty in using
bagasse for fuel, hence the same engine
might be profitably used for crushing
cane.
cone who has never witnessed the
operation of boiling cane juice would
be surprised at the amount of scum
that rises and must be removed before
good article of syrup can be pro
duced. From the peculiar color and
appearance of the scum produced when
the juice begins to boil, Mr.. Little's
men call it Paris green, or any other
playful name that its color and consist
eucy may happen TO suggest This
first scum is saved aud fed to hogs,
being reckoned fully equal in feeding
value to the same quantity of new
milk. 1t would certainly take quite 81
herd of cows to furnish as much pig
feed as the evaporator was regularly
throwing off, As the juice condenses
the scum improves in taste and appear
ance, and ia capable of being worked
over into syrup of quality somewhat
inferior to the first product. A well
furnished with force-pump and hose
supplied water and q means OF using it
to wash the mill, pans and other recep'
tacles and utensils.
"Whoever would make money or q
successful business OF manufacturing
syrup and sugar from cane, must ex-
pect to do it by proper attention to de
tails, both rs regards economy in labor
and skill in producing good article.
One of the most encouraging features
OF the business is the fact that fabulous
prices and profits can not be expected.
\ few acres of hops will sometimes
pay for farm in year, and as con
sequence people get wild on hop rails
ing pay, or agree to pay, more for
land than they can possibly make II
worth for any other purpose, contract
expensive habits, neglect the rest Of the
! farm and perhaps make a failure ut
last. And though a great many get
rich raising hops it is doubtful if the
average is much better than where
crops are raised that give smaller profits
but more certain and uniform returns.
/ Mixed farming is allowed to be one OF
the safest enterprise in which person
can engage, and any staple crop that
increases the chances with nothing
more than a spouding increase OF
risk and expenses may be considered
IA safe and valuable acquisition.
"Ihe recent death of Robert l..
/ Stuart, one of the noted firm OF sugar
lrehrers ofthat name, rec Ills an i'm
Iportant incident in their history, Their
brand was for many years a synonym
for purity and superior quality OF pro
/ ducts, but they we're eventually com.
Ipelled TO retire from business because
honest goods and methods could not
compete with frauds and.adulterations
And right mere, IN being able to guar
autee an honest PRODUCTS the strong
est point in the amber cane business.
SORGHUM IN NEW JERSEY.
From the report of Geo. II. Cook, d.
rec,or Of the n. j, Experiment Station
We extract the following
More than twenty years ago an At