The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-28
1['i!ii|l..,,aa!tsf7 ! ].
Sugar Cane Possibilities.
:. The Advertiser,

Editor The Advertiser:
 The editorial in your issue of today call ing attention to the possibilities of suc- cessful sugar cane growing and syrup manufacture in Southern Alabama is quite timely and 1t is to be hoped that the farmers in that section of the State can be aroused to the importance of the development of this too much neglected industry.
 The experiments in syrup making in the vicinity of Geneva (to which ailu- sion is made in your article) were report ed by MT. Thomas Bragg of Auburn, Assistant Chemist of the Experiment Sta tion who was detailed to act as special agent of the United States Department of Agriculture upon the recommendation of the chemist and the director of the station here.
 The pamphlet referred to gave results of analyses of sugar cane collected by special agents of the United States De- partment of Agriculture in number of Southern States and the average of the analyses of samples from MT. Blacks place near Geneva showed higher con- tent of cane sugar than any other lot of samples reported in this bulletin, although this fact may not be readily apparent by reason of the inclusion of the analyses of some immature cane from Middle Alabama in the average of the Geneva samples These figures but con- firm the results of investigations made by the writer during a number of seasons both in this State and Louisiana; and in a bulletin issued by this station nearly eight years ago attention was called to the fact that typical sugar cane lands in the cane growing regions of this State produced a cane "exhiblting marked superiority as regards saccharine content when compared with the cane grown upon the alluvial lands of Louisiaan, the proportion of sugar contained in the former being from to per cent in excess of that found in the latter"
 The chemical department of the expe- rlment station for number of years past has been endeavoring to encourage an increased interest in the cultivation of sugar cane and in the production of syrup of the best quality and of uniform com position and density. Practical experi- ments in the carifcation, manufacture and preservation of syrups have been car rled on from year to year and three bull letins descriptive of the methods em- ployed and results secured have been issued within the past few years. Especial emphasis has been laid upon the importance of properly clarifying the syrup, as a clear bright syrup will com mand upon the markets a much higher price than a dark, poorly clarified syrup of an equal sugar content. The necessity of cooking the syrup to uniform density has also been strongly urged upon syrup producers and an effort has been made to bring about the substitution of the density spindle for the old rule of thumb method for determining the point at which the syrup has reached the de- sired density. The importance and the superiority of steam, both for operating the mill and the evaporators, have also been brought to the attention of cane growers and syrup manufacturers, and number of steam outfits have been in- stalled in Eastern Alabama.
 Special appropriations were made at the last meeting of the Board of Trustees of this institution for the carrying out of experiments in syrup making during the coming season and the largest proportion of the amount allotted for this work will be expended in the sounthernmost portion of the State. This department has also expressed its willingness to send one of the members of it's staff to any point where his services could be of value or
 utility in the clarification or manufacture
 of syrup by improved methods and holds | itself in readiness during the ensuing
 season to cooperate in any way possible
 with parties who are desirous of improv- | ing their methods.
 In conclusion, it might not be amiss to call attention to the fact that the Inter- l State Association of Cane Growers which
 was organized under most hattering con ditions at eFacon last May has been in- vited to meet In Montgomery next spring and 1t Is to be hoped that the cane growers and syrup producers of this State will be able at that time to report encourage ing progress and increased interest in this important industry.
 Very respectfully, B. B. Ross,