The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-11
THE CANE AND oAssAvA ooNvEN-


The interest that is being taken in
South Georgia in the cultivation of sugar
cane and cassava is hopeful sign. The
/ Sugar Cane and Cassava Convention at
/ Brunswick on Tuesday was quite largely
attended, and great interest was taken in
the papers on both sugar cane and cassa-
va, and in the discussions which the pa
pers called out. South Georgia farmers
viii not of course turn their whole atten-
ton to the cultivation OF these two pro-
ducts, but they will give more thought
TO them than they have heretofore, and
gradually, as information in regard 10
them increases and experiments with
them prove successful. the cultivation of
them will be extended.
There is no doubt that the soil and eli
mate of South Georgia are well adapted
to both of these products. large acre
age is now planted in sugar cane, and
syrup is made that finds a market in
nearly al parts of the country. Much of
it is sold a. a price that yields fair
profit A great deal of it, however, is not
of as high a grade as it should be be-
cause of a lack of care in some cases and
a lack of knowledge in others in making
it. Very little sugar is made but there
is no good reason why the cane should
not be cultivated for sugar as well as for
syrup. The belief is growing that sugar
can be produced proftably in all of the
South Georgia counties. 1t would not be
surprising if there should be great deal
of sugar made in some of them this year.
There is of course a little made every
year. but there seems to be a disposition
now to undertake to produce it on
larger scale.
1t is highly important that the whole
matter should be thoroughly studied in
order that mistakes may be avoided. Mis-
takes mean losses and encouragement.
farmer who meets with failure in the be-
ginning will be apt to come to the conciu-
sion that there is no money in sugar,
when the whole trouble may be his lack
Of knowledge in producing it.
1t seems to us that the Brunswick con-
vention acted wisely in recommending
that the Legislature be asked to esta blish
an experiment station in South Georgia
for the purpose of instructing the farmers
in respect to the cultivation of cane and
the making of sugar.
1t will take time of course to get the
sugar producing movement fairly started,
but, it being well esLa blished that South
Georgia is well adapted to sugar, the
movement is certain to be successful if 1t
Is wisely managed.
There is no reason why the cultivation
of cassava should not be undertaken on a
large scale at once. 1t is well understood
what can be done with that product. 1t
is cultivated with great profit in Florida.
1t can be cultivated with equal success in
any South Georgia county. Unless our in
formation is incorrect there is great
deal more money in it than in cotton.
The possibilities Of South Georgia are
yet far from being fully understood. There
are counties in which splendid grade
OF tobacco can be grown Some of those
who attempted the cultivation of tobacco
failed to succeed because they did not
know how to cure the plant. If they had
put their crops in the hands of experts
the probabilities are that tobacco would
now be one of the great products of South
Georgia. If the sugar and casassava
movements are to be successful there
must be no big mistakes made at the
start.