Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-21
Sorghum Sugar Cane.

extracts are taken:
Sorghum Sugar Cane.
The sorghum cane is the plant which seems
best adapted to the soil, climate and length o.
season Of Kansas, an / II 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. Tho pl&nt, by virtue OF it sending its
roots very deep, and on account OF its ability 70
withhold its sap from excessive evaporation. IS
able 10 resist the effects Of drought most effect
lively. II is proof against tie att-cks Of ali 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.
1t should not be assumed that since sorghum
viii 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 poorIy-culti-
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 as 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 South Central Kansas some interesting
changes were noted, during the season OF 1855
in canes after the seed had hardened. Large
amounts stood in the fields for two months after
it had arrived 1T this stage. The percentage Of
sugar increased constantly during this tune,
~hiie 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
percentage of sugar.
1t has not been fully determined how the
most valuable cane is grown. In Central and
Western Kansas good results are obtained by
first listing" the ground then relisting, just
before planting with an subsoiling attachment
10 the lister. The seed is planted in the lister
furrow by a 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 be much the same
as for Indian corn, except that it is even more
important TO prevent the weeds and grass get
ting start in the sorghum than in the corn
Seld
The Importance OF having the cane of uniform
ripeness can not be too greatly emphasized
and is apparent when it is remembered that
il is only when fully ripe that sorghum contains
the maximum percentage OF sugar.
In the central part of the Suite. where some
Eacts have been cultivated TO sorghum for sew
tral years in succession, no depreciation has
been observed, and il 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 long
succession OF years without impoverishing the
land. II is true, however that the lands of Gen.
trail Kansas are abundanty supplied by nature
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 a clover crop.
The Early Amber, the Early Orange and the
Links Hybrid are the varieties of cane from
VIII CHI most OF the sugar manufactured in Kan
sas has been obtained. The Early Amber is a
rather small cane. and is usually planted for
early working on account OF this short period
which intervenes between the time of planting
and the time of harvesting this Gene 1t is
Early Amber planted early in Nav, about one
hundred days are acquired TO bring it to ma
turity. Cane Of this variety planted in June is
said to mature. under fAvorablr circumstances
in eighty-five days. This cane contains at matu-
rity large percentage of sugar: but il must be
worked promptly, because it begins to depre-
ciate rapidly in five or six days after its seed
becomes hard. II is planted for the earliest
working, and may be planted at any time in the
season up to the first or middle OF July. II
planted later than the middle of July il 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 a larger and later va.
rieiy. requirin, not less than four months from
planting 10 bring to maturity. After reaching
maturity 1t retains its maximum percentage OF
sugar for about thirty days. il left standing.
About half or two-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
il is usually found TO increase in its content OF
sugar uD to the close of the season. 1t yields
fully as heavy tonnage rs the Orange.
There are great many varieties Of cane |
some Of which possess valuable characteristics
One OF the largest of these i the Honduras.
which yields an immense tonnage and reaches |
q very satisfactory percentage OF sugar by the |
close OF the season. 1t would be an interesting
variety with which 10 make experiments in |
keeping. There are, on the other hand some |
varieties which are said to mature earlier than |
the Early Amber.