Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-02-13
SORGHUM.

The early amber, the early orange and
the Link S hybrid are the varieties of
cane from which most of the sugar man.
ufactured in Kansas has been obtained.
The early amber is rather small cane,
and is usually planted for early work
ing on account OF the short period
which intervenes between the time of
planting and the time of harvesting this
cane. 1t is sometimes called ninety
day cane" But for the early amber
planted early in May, about one hun
dred days are required to bring it to
maturity. Cane of this variety planted
in June is said to mature, under favora-
bic circumstances, in eighty-five days.
per centage of sugar; but it must be
worked promptly, because it begins to
depreciate rapidly in five or six days
after its seed becomes hard. 1t is plant
ed for the earliest working, and may be
planted any time in the season up to the
first or middle of Suly. If 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 abont
eight tons per acre, although as high as
fifteen tons per acre have been pro-
duced.
The Early Orange is a larger and later
variety, requiring not less than four
months from planting to bring it to ma
turity. After reaching maturity it re-
tains its maximum per centage of sugar
for about thirty days, if left standing.
| About half or two-thirds of the acreage
lis usually planted in this variety. The
average yield may be placed at ten tons
per acre, and may occasionally be near
ly doubled.
The time for harvesting cane extends
from about the first Of August to about
the first of November, This is long
harvest, and enables the farmer to take
off his crop without greatly enlarging
the ordinary force of the farm. Several
attempts have been made to construct
cane harvesting machines. Thus fan
they have not been very extensively
| used.
| The usual method of harvesting is to
cut the canes with common corn knife
and lay them in piles, placing an arm
full in pile. The seed heads are cut
from the canes, as they lie, by blow
from corn knife. Cat Douglas and at
Conway Springs the seed heads are al
lowed to remain on the canes until they
reach the factory, where the heads are
separated automatically by the cutting
machines.) The cane is drawn to the
factory on wagons, on which are placed
''cane racks"
In speaking of the diffusion process
of manufacture, the report says:
For the introduction of this process
in this country we are indebted to the
efforts of DR.. II. w. Wiley, the present
chief chemist of the United States de-
partment of agriculture. Whatever
may be the criticisms of DR.. Wiley, NJ
just history of the sorghum sugar in
dustry can rob him Of the credit here
given.
Judge w. l.. Parkinson and Prof
Magnus Swenson rendered capable ant
invaluable assistance at both Ottaw;
and Fort Scott, and without the practi
cal mechanical skill and many Yaluabl
suggestions which these gentlemen con
tributed, the difficulties of adapting dit
, fusion to the purposes of the Kansa
: sugar factory would probably have re
g rnained unsolyed. So too 1t must b
said that DR.. G. A. Champion, assistan
: chemist of the United States depart
] ment of agriculture, by his careful an
t accurate investigation of the man
n chemical problems presented, contribu
V ted an indispensable part to success.