The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-26
SPLENDID PAPER OF PROFESSOR ROSS
 ON SUGAR CANE INDUSTRY IN ALABAMA

have, taken place in every other field and department of agricultural indus try In this country. and the rapidly per capita consumption of sugar in the United States should add a renewed stimulus to any efforts which are being put forth to secure a larger domestic production of this im- portant commodity
 Cane Vesus Beefs.
 Notwithstanding the development which has taken place in the beet sugar industry In the Northern and Western States within recent years, nearly two-thirds of our total domes- tic production Of sugar is still ob- tained from the sugar cane, and there are not few experienced investiga- tors and students of this question who still believe that the chief hope of supplying even the major part of our sugar consumption lies in the develop ment of the cane sugar rather than the beet sugar industry.
 As to the date at which sugar cane culture was first begun in this State. would say that little data is accessi- ble which gives any light whatever on this subject, and there is even some dispute as to the date and locality at which sugar cane was first introduced in this country. although. according to Dr. Stubbs. the best authorities show that 1t was first brought from the West Indies to Louisiana in 1751.
 Soon after the introduction of the sugar cane plant into Louisiana. 1t is claimed that cane culture was com menced upon a small scale on the East Florida coast and later along the Georgia coast south of Savannah, sugar making upon not inconsidera- ble scale for that period being carried on in the latter State during the early part of the last century. As to whether sugar cane was brought from Louisiana to this State or carried west to Alabama from the Georgia coast, is a question whose solution have been unable. to accomplish, and 1t is even possible that 1t might have been i'm troduced direct from some of the West Indian islands.
 Suffice it to-~say, sugar cane culture has been carried on in Southern and Middle Alabama upon a small scale at least almost from the date of the admission of the State into the Union and while this cane has been grown chiefly for use in the production of syrup, nevertheless, In years gone by crude and low grade sugar was pro- duced in small quantities upon many plantations by processes still more crude.
 As the cane production of Alabama however, must for some years to come at least, be employed chiefly in the manufacture of syrup. large share of this discussion will be devoted to the question of the possibility and desira. bility of so increasing our output and improving the quality of our syrup as to supply both the home market, and 8 portion of the demand of the outside markets.
 Increase in Domestic Syrup.
 As those of you living in Middle or Southern Alabama know, nearly all oi the villages and towns of those sec. tions of the State are supplied with home made cane syrup during the fal and winter months, and there has beer a steady increase in the production oi domestic syrup for number of years past, although during the remainder oi the year the local products does not meet the requirements of the local con sumption.
 As stated in a previous paper read before this Association, the cane syruT production of this State in the last census year, according to the figures given in the twelfth census reports was much larger than many of our owr people would imagine, aggregating total of 2.672.4Ss gallons of syrup upor 32.S71 acres. although no allowance was made for the acreage of cane re "served for planting. The value assign, ed this product was $1,003,922, ant though no information is given witt regard to the marketing of this syruI there is no little doubt but that domes. tic consumption absorbed practically the whole output at that time.
 The writer has called attention in number of papers to the fact that a certain seasons of the year even 1T our local markets. 1t is well nigi impossible to secure pure cane syrupi and the demand is largely supplied b, syrup from outside markets.
 These imported syrups are oftet adulterated with corn glucose. or els, are the product of reboiling syrupl and molasses which have undergon, partial Fermentation, while in stil other cases it has been found that tn, syrups consist Tn part of low grade oi dark colored molasses or syrups whicl have been bleached or frightened b, treatment with such chemical agents as bi-sulphite of soda and pulverizeC zinc.
 am glad to state, however. tha within the past two or three year. there has been a marked increase fl the production and consumption of tn, domestic article in this State. and al ready some little attention Is beinf given to securing outside markets foI portion of the yearly output of cant syrup. There has also been a note worthy increase in the number O. syrup producers. and some of thes, newest accessions to the ranks of pro ducers are among the most progres sive in the employment of rational anC Improved methods of cultivation anC fertilization. as well as in the utiliza ton of advanced and intelligent meth ods of manufacture.
 In some of the border counties o South Alabama, where a few year, since cane patches of only from one tt five acres were to be found, there car now be seen tracts of from twenty five to fifty acres in cane some ot which vies in Iuxurlance and ranknes, of growth with the cane grown on tn, rich alluvial lands of Louisiana. whIl, the sugar content is as a rule well ir excess of that of the average Louisian nc product.
 Yield of the Soils.
 At theeJacksonville meeting, I statef that as a result of observations anf investigations made by the writer du. ring a residence of several years fl the sugar regions of Louisiana. tn, conclusion was reached that the light. and mora paaiI.-