Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-21

From advance sheets furnished by Sec
rotary Mohler the following interesting
extracts are taken:
Sorghum Sugar Cane.
the sorghum cane is the plant which seems
best adapted to the soil, climate and length OF
season of Kansas, and it may be added, to the
habits of agriculture of Kansas farmers. The
mode Of planting and cultivating is almost iden-
tical with that of Indian corn The light soils
OF our uplands and the sandy soils OF many OF
our river bottoms are suitable for the produc-
ton OF sorghum containing large percentage
OF sugar. The plant, by virtue OF it sending its
roots very deep, and on account OF its ability to
withhold its sap from excessive evaporation, 10
able to resist the effects of drought most effect
lively. It is proof against the attacks OF all in
sects save chinch- 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.
It should not be assumed that since sorghum
will grow almost without cultivation it may be
allowed to take care OF itself. No crop re-
spends more readily to thorough farming.
Further. the difference between poorly-cu1ti-
waited and well-cultivated cane is more real than
apparent.
We probably do not know how the plant in
the process OF its growth and ripening produces
the peculiar combination of carbon with the
elements Of water which forms sugar. But the
chemist is able to give some light to the
order in which certain compounds are devel
oped In the cane. In mature cane the percent
age OF cane sugar is very large, while that Of
the starch and glucose has fallen quite low. In
most varieties of sorghum the larg st percent
age OF cane sugar and the smallest of the other
substances in the juice Is found at or after the
period Of full maturity, as Indicated by the
hardened seed.
In uth-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
it had arrived at this stage. The percentage OF
sugar increased constantly during this tune,
while the percentage Of glucose decreased with
equal cOnStancy.
The fact OF most practical importance, how
ever, Is that the perfectly developed and fully
matured canes are those which yield both to
the chemist and to the manufacturer the largest
perez ntage OF sugar.
1t has not been fully determined how the
most valuable cane is grown. In Central and
Western Kansas good results obtained by
first listing the ground, then relisting, just
before planting. with an subsoling attachment
to the lister. The seed is planted in the lister
furrOw by q drill. The canes should stand about
four inches apart in the row, and the rows
should be about three and half feet apart
The after cultivation should be much the same
as for Indian corn, except that 1t is even more
important to prevent the weeds and grass get
ting o start in the sorghum than in the corn
field.
The importance of having the cane Of uniform
ripeness can not be too greatly emphasized,
anu lS apparent WQon IL Is remembered CnaC
It is only when fully ripe that sorghum contains
the maximum percentage OF sugar.
In the central part OF the State, where some
tracts have been cultivated to sorghum for sew
eral years in succession, no depreciation has
been observed, and it is claimed by many that
there is rather improvement than otherwise. 1t
is OF course absurd to expect that any crop may
be continuously and entirely removed for q long
succession Of years without impoverishing the
hand. 1t is true, however that the lands OF Cen
kaQS99 abNndantlV Y
with those inorganic elements essential to
plant-growth while in their native condition
they are rather deficient in their organic con-
stituents. The roots of the sorghum crop are
abundant, and decaying in the soil they improve
its condition in the respect in which it was most
deficient, and this respect having much the ef
feet of clover crop.
The Early Amber, the Early Orange and the
Links Hybrid are the varieties of cane from
which most OF the sugar manufactured in Kan
sas has been obtained. The Early Amber is q
rather small cane, and is usually planted fol
early working on account Of tbs short period
which interveneS between the time Of planting
and the time of harvesting this cane. It IL
sometimes called o 'ninety-day'' cane. But fol
Early Amber planted early in May, about one
hundred days are ieQuired to bring it to ma
turity. Cane OF this variety planted in June is
said to mature, under favorable circumstances
in eighty five days. This cane contains ar matu
rity large percentage of sugar: but it must be
worked PROMPTLY, becau-e it begins to depre
ClaLc r8plUly III uV0 OF SIX days 0ILcf us S6GC
becomes hard. It is planted for the earlies,
working, and may be planted at any time in the
season up to the first or middle of July i
planted later than the middle of July it will not
in this latitude, mature before the usual time
OF frost. The yield of this cane including seed
tops and leaves, is about eight tons per acre
although as high as fifteen tons per acre have
been produced
The Early Orange is larger and later va
riety. requiring not less than four months from
planting to bring to maturity. After reaching
maturity 1t retains its maximum percentage o.
sugar for about thirty days, if left standing
About half or two-thrds of the acreage il
usually planted in this variety. The average
yield may be placed at ten tons per acre. anG
may occasionally be nearly doubled.
The Links Hybrid is o variety which mature:
later than the Orange. In reports of analyses
1t is USUALLY found to increase in it's content O.
sugar up to the close of the season. It yields
fully as heavy tonnage as the Orange.
There are q great many varieties Of cane
some Of which possess valuable characteristics
One of the largest Of these is the Honduras
which yields an immense tonnage and reaches
very satisfactory percentage OF sugar by the
close of the season It would be an interestine
variety with which to make experiments il
keeping. There are. on the other hand. some
varieties which are said to mature earlier thar
the Early Amber.
Kansas Salt.
The salt of Kansas belongs to various geo
logic periods. and is found under great part O
the surface of the State. Many deep wells cas-
OF the sixth principal meridian have thei