The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-27

Editor OF The Times:
Sir.-I said in "a former communication
on sugar beets. that the subject OF sugar
production on the Eastern Shore would
be resumed. With your permission VIII
do so now.
My efforts to produce sugar on the
Eastern Shore were not confined 10 the
beet crop, but experiments were also
made with the sorghum cane. The four
varieties Of sugar beets grown by me-
and the amber sorghum cane were grown
on the same kind of land, side by size.
The average of the Vilmorin beets sent
by me TO the chemist engaged by the
State Board Of Agriculture, was sS per
cent, and one selected beet was 10 per
cent. The State had III analyses mace
OF sugar beets grown I'm the state, with
an average of - per cent of sugar IN
the juice. / had 400 analyses OF sor-
ghum cane, with an average OF IL per
cent. of sugar in the juice, in amber
cane; and on October Sth 100 canes aver
aged 1871 per cent Of sugar in the juice.
The cane grown by me was analyzed
by DIR. Arthur Il. Neale. director OF tne
Delaware Experiment Station. DR.. Neale
Is a chemist has had eight years expo
rience i'm professional work In the beet
sugar factories Of Germany, ana was
seven years in the sorghum cane tacto-
ries Of New Jersey. DR.. Neale mas Deeh
breeding the sorghum seed for several
years. until now the highest results ever
known have been reached with that
Va D"' 0" i'O''' "''1 '"''
In view OF these facts. efforts are being
now made by citizens OF Virginia 10 IN
duce the United States Government 10
establish an experiment station al cape
Charles Va. To develop and perfect lnls
work now in an advanced stage. Inc
results so far have been placed belolc
members of Congress who have charge OF
the agricultural interests OF the house'
and OF finance In the Senate, and before
the Secretary Of Agriculture; ana an OF
them look upon the project favorably'
Mr.. VIM. \. Jones has shown mucn inter-
est i'm the subject. and Will give II ms
attention when 1t comes before the
House.
Sorghum cane can be grown for the
same expense as corn. ana II mas an ad-
ditional vame of the seed, which are
good feed for stock. IL VIII yleld ac-
cording to the land II Is grown IN, Dut
good land should produce from ID 10 ~
tons per acre, and should be worth ~ per
ION. Inc conditions AT cape charles nave
been found very favorable 10 the sors-
hum crop. which no doubt extends up the
entire peninsula to the head OF the Ches-
apeake Bay. and Will also cover the corn
growing section Of Virginia. And no
doubt further efforts will still more de-
velop this valuable plant when the eN-
pertinent station is established.
The average Of sorghum cane grown
at Hollywood Place gave 2bS pounds OF
sugar TO the ton of cane, and, II Is stated
tlhl the average Acif sA'Nh 10 As'"'''
ana for the past year was l6s pounds, and
the parish in that State, that gave the
highest average was 1870 pounds or sugar
10 the ton Of cane. with an experiment
station at Cape Charles, managed by the
Government all the facts 80 far ascer-
tanned can be fully developed, with great
results to Virginia. Maryland, and Dels-
ware and the Eastern part OF the United
States This experiment can be deter
mined at "A very small cost in comparl-
son to the sums OF money heretofore
spent on sorghum I'm Kansas and New
Jersey under unfavorable conditions, mat
resulted in failure in these states. The
sugar found at Cape May averages per
cent. sugar i'm the juice. which IS too
low to be successfully operated. II the
work is commenced at an early date, the
prospect is good FOR a full test this year
covering the peninsula, and II Is 10 be
hoped that Congress will act speedily
upon It, We imported last year l''bO'oO,
tons of sugar. This can be grown az
home when all arrangements are per
fected. ORRlS a BROW y T.
Cape Charles. Va, Jan. q, 1888