The Iola register., 1889-02-22
SORGHUM Snpar Cane.

retary 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, ani 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-
t:on 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. is
able to rscist the effects of drought most effect
ireiy 1t Is proof agaiss.. tHe @ attHrks g all IN
sects save chinch-bugs and is b. these affected
much less than corn. sInaeed the ramage from
chinch-buss amounts TO nothing except where
cane grows adjacent Ia wheat, oats or rye.
1t should Not be assumed that since sorghum
will grew almost without cultivation it may be
allowed 70 take care Of itself. No crop re-
spohus more readily to thorough farming.
Further. the difference between poorly-culti-
waited and well-cultiyated 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
10 W give sOiAt liehl ds W thc
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 1sSS,
in canes after the seed had hardened. Large
amounts stood in the fields for two months after
IL had arrived at this stage. The percentage OF
sugar increased constantly during this tune,
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
cCntage 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 half feet apart.
The after cultivation should be much the SAM
as for Indian corn, except that it is even more
important to prevent the weeds and grass get
ting a start in the sorghum than in the corn
yeld.
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 State. where some
racts have been cultivated to sorghum for sew
.ral 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 long
succession OF years without impoverishng the
land. 1t is true. however, that the lands of Cen
trail Kansas are abundantly 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 ch 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 account OF tbs short period
which interveneS between the time of planting
and the time of harvesting this cane. II is
sometimes called 'ninety-day cane But for
Early Amber planted early in Nav, about one
hundred days are reQuired 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 At matu-
rity a large percentage Of sugar but il must be
worked promptly, becau,e il begins to depre-
ciate rapidly in five 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 first or middle of July. II
planted laIer 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 larger and later va
riety. reQuirin not less than four months from
planting TO bring to maturity. After reaching
maturity II retains its maximum percentage of
sugar for about thirty days. if left standing.
About half or twothiris 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 usuailv found to increase in its content OF
sugar uu TO the close of III. season. 1t yields
fully as heavy tonnage as 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
a very satisfactory percentage OF sugar by the
close OF the season. 1t would be an interesting
variety with which TO make experiments in
keeping. There are, on the other hand. some
varieties which are said TO mature earlier than
the Early Amber.
SaYf