The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-18

dustry in this state for the information
and benefit of the farmers of the county
named, with view to engaging In the
industry in conjunction with a company
that proposes TO put in a sugar mill a
Newton this season, if the farmers vii
thus cooperate with them. The com
mittee last week visited Medicine Lodge
and vicinity and made thorough inves-
| tigation of the subject from the farmer
| standpoint by interviewing the farmers
who produced the cane for last years
operations at that place, as well as the
officers and operators of the mill there.
The result Of the committees investiga-
tons is given in very full report adj
! dressed to the farmers of Harvey county
and published in the Newton Republican
from which the subjoined extracts are
made and which we are sure will be read
with interest by all who are in any way
interested in the sugar industry imme-
diately or prospectively:
In the flush Of the excitement incl
! dent to the beginning Of what promises
to be revolution in farming. some,
eager to be first at the front, and forget
full Of the essential condition of heat in
| the growing Of sorghum, planted too
early in April and got poor stand,
others planted with planters and got it
too thick, and others planted on ground
so foul from previous neglect that the
weeds were a constant menace to the
growing crop and not only diminished
the product, but greatly impaired the
quality of the cane. 1t may be proper
TO state here that a chemist is employed
at the mill who tests the per cent of su-
gar in each load by selecting a sample,
and observation proves that well cult
waited cane is the richest in saccharine
matter. This latter fact is contrary to
general belief, but has been demonstrated
by chemical analysis. The experience of
the past year, as to the proper time for
planting and the necessity for good cul-
tivation, viii be of great value in lessen
ing the chances of disappointments as TO
product and quality. Notwithstanding
all the difficulties enumerated, the profit
on the product delivered was satisfac-
tory. As fair illustrations of the sue
cess Of the cane raiSerS we give the fol-
lowing:
-. A. Vandemark raised ffty-eight
tons on six acres; ground was foul;
planted with planter and got it too thick;
cultivated two times; could do most of
the cutting and hauling, and haul three
loads per day-One and One-haIf tons per
load, Could raise an acre of cane
cheaper than an acre Of corn. Was well
satisfied with result, and will plant a
great deal more this season.
''ALr Chile, three miles south of Med
icine Lodge, gave similar testimony;
said that he received less than the aver
age per ton (Which was about so on
account of poor cane. Mr.. Fields, three
miles north Of town, listed in 200 acres;
cultivated two times; got an average Of
about nine tons per acre; delivered pro-
duct of 100 acres: received over 50 per
ton; product Of entire acreage would
have been worth over s., 400; was very
over the result and would
plant 500 acres this season; began to de
liver cane September II and finished
II; said four men could cut
and, with Transfers help, load forty
tons per day; left fodder on, and
also seed on, if they chose to: said
there were men there who had paid off
their mortgages with their cane crop.
'Many others gave similar testimony
as to the profits of sorghum raised for
at that place during the |
last season. That the business there had |
opened an era of prosperity TO the farm
ers, the laborers and the merchants, |
which gives great promise for the future
was the general sentiment Of all we met. |
An air thrift seemed to prevade the |
place, which spoke of the benign in
tiunce of the new industry"
K
FINALLY, in summing up the result of
work, we believe it has been demon
'trated at Medicine Lodge, in spite of adj
verse circumstances, that it is practicable !
o make sugar out of sorghum in south
ern Kansas with a view to profit: that
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