Delta chief., 1884-03-05
Minncsota Sorghum Amber Cane.

/ From the Scientific American.
The Minnesota sorghum cane growers have
just held their fourth annual meeting at the
State University in Minneapolis. The per
severance of the association is remarkable,
considering the disastrous results of the past
two years. 1t seems to be agreed that, for
successful crop either Of corn or of cane,
there must be an average temperature of zoo
tor 90 successive days. The average of the
summer of 1883, in the latitude of Mime
sofa, was but GO. But new and expert
mental industry ought not to be discouraged
because of such calamity of climate, by
which all crops not harvested before the
ccptonally early September frost suffered as
well as the cane crop. The problem de-
manding first attention is that of securing n
mature crop; in regard to which the perfec-
ton of seed, thoroughness of culture, and
elimination of suckers from the mature stems
may be considered the most important fac
tors. Hybrids should be sought that are
earlier aud more hardy even than the ceie-
brated early amber cane
Among the interesting facts brought out
was that, IA sirup making plant. the amber
cane NAV now be considered as nearly per-
feet. As sugar making plant, however, il
is tn be noticed that il Yields two sorts of
gar. The crysiallizable variety is what we
desire Hs there j. harfily any demand in mar
ket for the uncrystallizable. Experiments
excite the hope that amber cane may yet be
made to Yield 10 per cent ot the best sugar,
and but 2 percent Of the inferior. Ii is well
known that when the sugar beet was first
experimental with, about "A century ago, 6
per cent of sugar the most that il was
thought possible to get whereas under mod
crn methods the yield is from L. to - per
cent. This development has been made in
the face of difficulties far more formidable
than those confronting the champions of am
bcr cane. II should not be forgotten that the
seed alone will pay for the crop, as IL yields
at the rate of $50 pounds to the ton, and is
worth as much a. corn. II resembles buck
wheat in taste, appearance and properties.
Prof. Wiley. chemist of the Agricultural
Department at Washington. was present and
gave an address op The Northcrn Cane In
du~;ry." lie began with the statement that
foreign sugar is nov being imported at the
rate of 5000 tons annually, and that, IL
the home production does not soon increase,
the impariations will rise TO 2,UDo.o0 tons.
At present there arr four large sorghum sugar
factories in the United States, that produced
lnst wear an aggregate Of 100000 pounds.
The speaker avprrcd that the best sirups and
mnlasscS in the world are now made out ni
sorghum canes, the value of which is steadily
rising. that the whole crop Of last year suli
NJ an average Of any ceuts per gallon. The
lingering prejudice against surghum srup is
due I1 imperfect DELEGATION: an evil that may
bc rrmciicd lay filtration, heat aud chemical
agents. These were minutely described, aud
the gratifying conclusion reached that amber
cane sirup. when properly treated. cannot be
made To- fcrmcnt under any ordinary condi-
tions of temperature and exposure.
1t may bc added that, while sorghum was
introduced into America from China about
thirty years ago, IL only about fifteen
wears since that Mr.. T.. Y. Teas, while e,per-
mentin. with somr cane ssei purchased in
Paris noticed single head Of the canes rais-
td from It, that differed from the rest. The
next spring he planted thi. seed by itself aud
iuund that the result was very early cane,
aud the sirup made from it was OF fine am
bcr color In consideration of these qualities
Il was called "rhc Early Amber"