Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-02-15
PROS. COWGILL.s

PROF.. COW eaLlLL'S
sugar Report for SS-Imporfane Fsv-
tracts Here Givsn-Vghere to Get the
Fun Report.
For the information Of our readers We
herewith produce from Prof. E. B. CowgilI's
sugar report, just issued, sach paragraphs
as are Of special interest TO farmers. Those
persons who desire the full report, should
direct a request to the Secretary Of the State
Board Of Agriculture, Hon. Martin Mohler,
Topeka.
The sorghum cane is the plant which seems
best adapted to the soil, climate and length OF
nADlCs OF agrlediTurS or kansas 1ar1nera. The
mode OF planting and CultIVating is almost idsn-
teal with that OF Indian corn. The light soils
o. our upIsnus ana the SANDY SOILS OF many OF
our river bottoms are suitable for the production
Of sorghum containing a large percentage OF
sugar The plant. by VII ne OF lts habits Of send
ing It's roots very deep, and on account OF its
tlons 19 able 70 resist the e1ecUs or drOuth most
effectively. 1t ls proof against the attacks OF all
insects save chlnch-bugs, and Is by these affected
much less than corn Indeed the damage from
ChinCh-bugs amounts to nothing except where
cane grows adjacent to wheat, oats. or rye.
GOOD CULTIVATION NECESSARY.
1t should not be assumed that since SORGHUM
VIII grow almost without cultivation it may be
allowed to take care Of itself. No crop responds
difference Between poorly-eultIvated and veil
cultivated cane Is more real than apparent
HOW DOES TIE CANE FORM EUGARE
We probably do not know how the plant in the
process of its growth and ripening produces the
peculiar Cmb1natlOn Of carbon with the ele-
ments of water which forms sugar But the
chemist is able to give some light as to the order
in which certain compounds are DEVELOPED in
the cane Thus: during the latter psriCd Of the
canes growth the chemist hnds in its juice
large percentage OF substance having the COmpO-
sition and giving the reactions OF starch to
gsther with considerable glucose. Later the pro
portion OF glucose to starch is greater, and cane
sugar is also found. In mature cane the per-
Vv1a
the starch and glucose has fallen quite low. In
OF cane sugar and the smallest Of the other sub
stances in the juice is found at after the period
or TnIl maturity as indicated by the hardened
seed. 1t has. therefore, been supposed that in
forming sugar the cane produces first the starohy
stance; second changes this TO glucOsei and
third changes the glucose to sugar.
In south central Kansas some interesting
changes were noted, during the season OF 1885, in
canes after the seed had hardened. Large
amounts stood In the fields for two months after
1t had arrived at this stage. The percentage Of
while the percentage OF glucose decreased with
Izs fact of most practical importance, how
ever Is that the perfectly developed and fully
ILlatnred canes are those which yield both to the
CenJage of sugar.
WHAT CULTIVATION Is DEM ,oDED?
It has not been fully determined how the most
valuable cane is grown. In central and west m
Kansas good results are obtained by first list
ing the ground, then relistIng, lust before plant
ing with a subsOilinR attachnr emf TO the lister
The seed is planted in the lister furrow by drill
The canes should stand about four inches apart
in the row, and the rows should be about three
and a half feet apart. The after cultivation
should he much the same as for Indian corn, ex-
cept that it is even more important to prevent
the weeds and grass getting start IN the sorghum
The Importance Of having the cane of uniform.
riDsness cannot Zee too greatly emphasized, and
is apparent when it is remembered that it is
when only fully ripe that sorghum contains the
maximum percentage OF sugar.
The question Of fertilizer has been much eZ-
perimented with in New jersey, and excellent
tod
OF the commercal fertilizers. especially muriate
OF potash. But the Kansas cane-grOwer is not
likely to cOL-eTn himself much with the subject
Of fertilizers while his LANDS produce abundantly
as rich cane as at present.
DOES SORGHUM CULTURE EXHAUST THE LAND?
In the central part of the State, where some
eral years in succession, depreciation has been
observed, and it is claimed by many that there is
course, absurd to expect that any crop may be
continuously and entirely removed for q long
land. 1t is true. however. that the lands of cen
tral Kansas are sbundsntly supplied by nature
growth, while in their native condition they ara
rather deficient in organic constituents. The
cRying in the soil they improve its condition in
the respect in which it was most deficient in tins
respect having much the effect OF clover crop.
SUGAR NOT DRAWN FROM THE SOIL.
As already shown, page 6. sugar is composed of
the elements OF water united with carbon. 1t is
probable that the carbon is tab en- from the car
bOnic acid Of the air through the functions of
the leaves, while the water 10 continually renewed
in the soil if indeed il is drawn from that source
When, therefore, a country produces and ez-
ports sugar, 1t does not thereby rob Its soil of the
means of wealth for future generatiOns The
statement does not hold, however, as to the
other parts of the cane, particularly the seeds and
the leaves, both of which take into their cOmDO-
sltiOn considerable Quantities of those essential
elements Of soil which are renewed by the showers
/ and breezes. A true economy, therefore, fug-
gests that these, which are excellent feed for
stock, ought to be consumed on the farm.
VARIETIES OF CANE.
The Early Amber, the Early Orange and the
Inns Hybrid are the varieties or cane from
which most OF the sugar manufactured in Kansas
has been obtained. The Early Amber is a rather
Ing on account of the short period which inter
Venes between the time of planting and the time
OF harvesting tR1s cane. 1t Is sometimes called
a ''ninety-day' cane. Bot for Early Amber,
planted early in May, about one hundred days
are required to bring it to maturity. Cane of
this variety planted in June is said to mature,
under favorable circumstances, in eighty-hYe
days. This cane contains at maturity a larse
/ percentage Of sugar: but il must be worked
promptly, because it begins to depreciats rapidly
IN I'VE or six days after its seed becomes hard 1t
! is planted for the earliest working, and may be
planted at any time IN the season up to the hTst
middle Of July it viii not, in this latitude, ma
ture before tho usual time of frost The yield of
this cane including seed-tops and leaves is about
/ eight tons per acre. although high as fifteen
/ tons per acre have been produced.
The Early Orange is a larger and later variety,
| requiring OF less than four months from plant
tIrfty it retains its uaximun percentage of sugar
/ for about thirty days If left standing. About
half or tgo-thirds of the acreage is usually planted
in this variety. The average yield may be placed
/ at ten tons per acre, and may occasionally be
nearly doubled.
The Links Hybrid is a variety which natures
later than the Orange. In reports OF analyses, 1t
/ is usually found to Increase in it's content Of
sugar up to the clio SO Of the season. 1t yields
/ fully as heavy tonnage as the Orange.
HARVESTING CANE.
The time for harvesting cane extends from
about the first Of August 10 about the first Of
/ November. This Is long harvest, and enables
rs viii rT fNV
/ charging the ordinary force of the farm Sew
/ eral attempts have been made to construct cane
/ harvesting mac hines. Thus far they have not
I been extensively used.
The usual method of harvesting is to cut the