The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-13
ENTERS A WIDER SPHERE.
SUGAR AGITATION TAKEN UP BY
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

Prompt Action-He VIII Send Let
ters of Inquiry to the
Farmers Throughout the State.
The History of Sugar Cane
Culture in GeOrgia-The Question
of a Market for the Manufactured
Product Disposed of in a Word.
Full Information VIII Reach Conn
missioner Stevens.
Capt. D. G. Purse has recently written
and sent to Commissioner of Agriculture
Stevens an interesting letter in regard 10
the status of sugar cane culture in Geor-
gia and the valuable uses to which this
staple may be put. The letter touched
upon the need of a refinery to manufac-
ture the raw material, and urged upon
the commissioner prompt action in striv-
ing to awaken the farmers of the state to
the benefits they may expect to derive
from the crop.
Referring to the history of cane culture
and the manufacture of sugar, Capt.
Purse says:
Georgia was the original cane-growing
state of the federal union. The ruins of
two sugar plants in the vicinity of Sa
vannah bear witness to this. One of these
plants, situated opposite the city, an old
diary affirms, was used as a place of ref
uge and safety for the women and chill
dren during the siege of Savannah in 1873
by the combined forces of the colonists
and their allies, under Counts DEstaing
and Pulaski. The other plant, the ruins
of which are more clearly traced to-day,
was located upon Oatland another island
adjacent to Savannah, and was undoubt-
eddy erected after the revolution.
Originally the center OF sugar cane
cultivation, when her jurisdiction limits
practically embraced the state in the civil
ization of that day, how well does it be-
come Savannah to-day to lead in the eff
fort being inaugurated to restore a great
industry to its primal Importance in con-
trlbuting to our agricultural wealth? And
as always, in her history, how proper, too,
that in assuming the burden of this cam
paign of education Savannah should seek
the benefit of the whole state in the result
she hopes to attain by her work?
There is no reasonable room for doubt
That sugar cane cultivation gave way to
rice and cotton in the sea coast as the
latter crowded out the cultivation of to-
bacco in the interior counties of Georgia
No more conclusive proof as 10 rice Is
needed than the recent publication in the
Morning News of this city of an extract
from the diary of the late James Hamil-
ton Copper one of the most learned and
practical farmers Georgia has ever pro-
duced. In Mr.. Coupers day it was not
Known that the best results from sugar
cane culture are obtained from the up
lands and not from the aEuvial deposits
that constitute the productive element in
our rice heids. Hence Mr.. Copper did
wisely in abandoning the cultivation of
sugar cane for rice upon these areas
Prof. Stubs of New Orleans, our great
est authority upon cane cultivation and
sugar production in recent years, has con-
tirmed this fact by exhaustive scientific
deductions.
When Georgia, then, in 1926, gave rib
bon cane seed to Louisiana to improve her
own seed, she bequeathed to Louisiana the
mine of wealth that is to-day the chief
pillow in her agricultural strength, the
production OF sugar cane as an element
of national commerce. And, stranger
stiil, though confessedly true, that The
Georgia seed supplied Louisiana in 1926
is to this day The progenitor of the seed
relied upon for the best results in sugar
cane growing in that state"
The letter then proceeds to a discussion
OF the comparative ease with which the
manufactured product may be marketed
and in this connection says:
IN the matter of sugar cane produc-
ton, when it is recalled that the United
States only produces Is per cent of it's
consumption, and is, of necessity, forced
TO enter the markets of the world for
"a per cent. 10 supply its demands, 1t can
not be correctly said that we are called
upon to find market for any supply of
sugar that may be produced in Georgia
as long as she will keep herself in posi-
ton to compete with foreign markets,
as Louisiana is endeayoring to do, more
economically each day, until the 81 per
cent. of foreign purchases are provided
for by home producers, who have every
advantage in such competition.
IF, therefore, The result of the Inquiries
you have kindly consented to PROFOUND
to sugar cane growers touching the pres
emf crop and its harvest, and generally TO
elicit all information attainable in regard
TO sugar cane cultivation in Georgia,
should prove that the raw material can
be proftably produced in Georgia for sus-
tanning sugar plants constructed upon the
highest modern standards for economical
operation, then the state can take its
place with Louisiana in contributing TO
the consumption of sugar in this coun-
try, which would afford an Unsuitable
market for our production, If the whole
state went TO sugar cane growing
1T is not a market therefore that is
needed to-day for even our syrups, but a
better preparation of these syrups to COM
ply with trade standards to bring them
into general demand with safety for those
promoting their introduction and sale
Capt Purse turns from a discussion of
the questions of market and of supply and
demand, to the question of production in
this state. Speaking of the agitation
among the farmers, with a view to excit-
ing their interest and cooperation in cane
culture, and the desire of those already in
terested TO have the fullest information on
the subject the letter continues:
I'm this investigation we are entering up
on, it is important to know from each
grower who replies to Inquiries:
~. The character of soil planted.
80. The method of cultivation.
IS. Kind and cost of fertilizers used and
how and when applied.
Il. Character of weather of season, set
ting forth rainfall, temperature, etc.
IS. Date of maturity and cutting
sc. Injury of plant by insects, disease or
extraordinary cause.
~. Number of tons of 1000 pounds each.
-,sa. ,l Of,