Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-07
Sugar Makers In Council.

The sorghum sugar-makers Of New York
held largely attended convention at Ge-
nevs, February. The Utica Herald's re-
port says there were three times as many
present as attended the meeting last year at
Utica. A lively interest was manifested,
and an interchange of experience was made
as freely as at dairymen's meeting. The
crop OF syrup was stated at from one hun
dred and fifty to two hundred gallons per
acre, sold at from forty-two to sixty cents
per gallon. The makers present represented
production of about 10000 gallons, and
all propose to push the business more
strongly another year. 1t was agreed to
put the price of manufacture at two cents
pound, and a weight of eleven pounds to
the gallon was given as the standard. The
earliest variety of cane is found to be the
most profitable, and the more fully mature
it is before grinding the better the results.
All the New York makers work by the open
pan system, like that used for maple sugar.
The syrup made is of light color and ex-
cellent flavor, entirely free from any objec-
tionable taste. Not much has been done in
New York yet towards making sugar, as
syrup pays best at present, but all the
makers agree that there will be no difficulty
in making sugar, as properly made syrup
from mature cane always grains strongly
when sufficiently concentrated. The prin.
cipal difficulty experienced during the last
year was in getting uniform color and
quality of product, thing as necessary in
syrup as in butter and cheese, in the great
markets. This was overcome in q degree
by running the whole make together in
large tanks before barreling, but of course
this sacrificed the best to the poorest in
making a uniform grade. More skill in
growing the cane, more experience in manu-
featuring, and conducting the business on a
larger scale with improved apparatus, are
the ways out Of this trouble. There was
not doubt expressed as TO the profit Of the
business. The enthusiasm seemed to be
quite equal to that for ensilage.
The new Founder of the Industry" was
entirely ignored by this convention, but
resolutions were passed thanking Commits
sioner LIE Due for investigating the business,
and also Professor Collier, who was intro
duced to the meeting by the president of
the association, Hon. A. G. Williams, as
"the father Of the sorghum industry in this
country" The resolutions were as follows
Resolued That in view OF the great services
which he has rendered the country at large, and
the importance OF the business which General lie
Due was instrumental In establishing, we the
cane growers Of New York state, tender to him
our hearty gratitude for his valuable services
while occupying the chief position in our national
agricultural bureau, and would express our belief
that the time has already come when his efforts
to promote our domestic sugar interests are fully
appreciated by the agricultural population Of the
land.
Resolved That the thanks Of this association
are due to Professor Peter Collier for his presence
at our meetings and for the important and valu-
able information impaired to us by him. To DR..
Collier more than aDy other scientific man Of the
world are we indebted for discoveries and for the
settlement Of practical questions in the msnufac-
ture Of syrup aud sugar. Wehereby acknowlt dge
our indebtedness and express our appreciation Of
his services.