Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-21
SUGAR CANE.
Successful Production in
Butte County.
A NEW ENTERPRISE.
Some Dreams About Oranges in
Northern Counties Which
Will Not Go.
SUGAR CANE.
A NEW ENTERPRISE.
Chico Enterprlse, october 9th.

the soil of Butte, and remarkable
range in its climatic conditions, that
unite to make the productions of the
county most. varied and diverse. Be-
sides the ordinary grains and fruits that
grow in other parts Of the county as
well az here, but nowhere in greater
abund ance we ca n boast OF many things
that Others OF raise at all. 1t is true
that these things are not raised extensive
ly as vet, but it has been proved conclu.
sively that they will grow. 1t is only
lately that our people have come to
realize that fine oranges can be pro-
duced here, but now orange trees are
beng set out as business instead of an
experiment. SO it is with the olive.
Interested parties have found that this
fruit will grow ia Butte as well as Italy,
its home, or in the southern part of the
State; and olive trees are now being
planted in various portions of the county,
with an eye to the production of olive
oil, which has proved most profitable
industry. Cotton, coffee and tobacco
will grow here, and do now grow on the
Rancho Chico; but it is not likely they
will ever be produced in any large quan-
titles and except in the way OF expert
ment.
Another experiment shat has lately
been tried, and one that has proved
more successful than was ever hoped for,
is the produce of sugarcane. Small
quantities had been set out on the
Ranch Chico at different times, merely
by way of trial, but had never -four
ished. Early last spring two gentlemen
named Hall and Hogan, who had come
out to California from Illinois, rented
niece of land from General Bidwell for
the express purpose of planting sugar.
cane on it. They had tried to grow the
cane the previous year on the old Har-
men Bay place, but had made failure
there. The land they rented of General
Bidwell is situated near Chico creek,
four miles west of town, and is so locat-
ed that it receives great deal OF mois-
ture, frequently being overflowed i'll
winter. On this land Messrs Hall and
Hogan planted last April between twen-
ty-tive and thirty acres of cane, setting
out the seed, which they obtained from
Sacramento. The variety is a northern
one, different from the Louisiana growth,
and is known as the Early Amber.
This experiment was attended with
success far beyond the expectations OF
those who made it. The cane grew
Iuxuriantly. Many of the stalks at.
tanned height of fourteen and fifteen
feet. while the entire field will average
twelve. Messrs. Hall and Logan had
made no preparations to handle such q
crop, rather expecting a repetition OF
the previous year. But when the time
came they went to work with o will.
For six weeks thirteen men have been
steadily employed, some in the field cut
ting and trimn ing the cane, others
han 1ding it to the syrup works half
mile distant, and still others busy there
putting it through the mill and superin'
tending the sap down into syrup. But
now, after six weeks work. the men are
scarcely half through the field, aud dlate-
ly the men have been kept going inces-
sanity night and day to dispose of the
cane before the rains come. The stalks
have been badly beaten down in places
by the heavy north winds of last sum-
mer. and this retards considerably the
progress of the work in the field.
The camp, where the syrup is made
from the cane, is, as we have said,
situated about half q mile from the
field. The stalks, all trimmed and
topped, are hauled to this camp and
piled up there like SO much cordwood.
The first step in the process OF utiliz-
ing the cane is that OF running 1t
through the mill. This mill consists of
four large iron rollers, placed verti-
cally, and kept in constant motion by
horse. power. The cane is fed in by
hand between these rollers, deprived
by them of every drop of its sap, and
forced out on the other side crushed,
mangled and perfectly dry. The SO
runs out of the mill into funnel.
shaped opening. and is conducted by an
underground pipe down slight de-
clivity to the sap tank, about twenty
feet distant. In front of the opening
which lets the sap into this tank is
placed wisp of hay, as filter.
The continuance used tor converting
the crude sap into syrup is called the
RAILROAD Evaporator." Over long
brick furnace are placed four sheet.iron
pans, so arranged on slides that they can
be pushed along down the furnace by
means of windlass. Into the first OF
these pans the sap is conveyed from the
tank by q stopcock. The first pan
stands directly over the hottest part of
the fire and gets the most thorough boil.
ing. In a few moments o thick green
scum rises to the surface OF this sap.
This is carefully SKINNED off and
thrown away as often as it rises. When
this pan has boiled down some little
time it is moved down by means of the
windlass. and the second pan
filed with the crude sap. Then the
third and fourth pans take their turn.
As the first pan is pushed down of
course it gets less snd less heavy. The
syrup in It becomes thick from boiling,
and turns from green to beautiful
amber color. 1t is now ready for use
and is drawn off into gallon cans for the
market. When the first can is emptied
1T is removed. The Others are pushed
down and the first carried back to the
other end, where it is filed once more
with the crude sap. Each pan is over
the furnace about an hour from the time
the crude sap enters it until the syrup
is finally drawn off into the cans. The
boiling process requires the constant
attention of man, for the green scum
must be removed as soon as 1t comes to
the surface. If it is once allowed to
boil the syrup is spoiled. for no
amount of future boiling will cause the
sum to rise again.
Messrs. Hall and Hogan will realize
handsomely from their venture, for the
business is profitable one. They find
that their cane yields about 200 gallons
TO the acre, which will make 5000 gal
Ions the product of the field. The syr.
up sells at 40 cents gallon wholesale.
It is estimated that the entire ex.
peuse of the business, including labor,
fuel, cans, etc.. do not exceed 20 cents
on each gallon, leaving clear profit of
20 cents on each. or of $1,000 OH the field.