LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. Gl FT OF Class U. S. DKI'AkTMKN I OF . \Ckld I.TURE. BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY BULLETIN NO. 75. ' SUGAR-CANE CULM IN THE SOUTHEAST FOR THE MANUF.\riTI!K OK TAI!I.K SIIMT. BY I I. W. \V I r^K Y, CliieC «,C lh«- I tu I-O.M n <•( ' ( 'homi^t i-x . I. PERTILIZEE EXPEEIMENTS ON SUGAR CANE, Conducted by \V. H. .HODDKXHKRY, Oztro; Go. II, REPORTS OF SPECIAL AGENTS ON SUGAR-CANE CULTURE, Introduction by (I. L. 8FENOJ1R, Chief of WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY BULLETIN NO. 75. H. \V. NVII.KY. (HIM 01 Hi 1:1 \i SUGAR-CANE CURB IN THE SOUTHEAST FOR Till- MANUFACTURE <>K TAIILK SUM I'. HY II. W. WILKY, «>!' 1 In- Hui-«-:tu «.f < 'IK-) 111. -I r>-. I. FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS ON SUGAR CANE, Con.luctc.l by \v. I',. RODDENBEBT, CWro, 9*. II REPORTS OP SPECIAL AGENTS ON SUGAR-CANE CULTURE, Introduction by <;. I- S1'KN( 'I'.K, Chief of Sugar Laboratory , WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICBJ. 1'.' LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY, Washington, D. C., April 4, 1903. SIR: I submit herewith for your inspection and approval a manu- script describing the agricultural experiments conducted in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida during the year 1902 in connection with the investigations of the Department of Agriculture relative to the manufacture of table sirup, and recommend its publication as Bulletin No. 75 of this Bureau. Respectfully, H. W. WILKY. ( r///\/' »f I tn i', an Hon. JAMES WILSON, Secretary of Agriculture. CONTENTS. I. i-'ertiii/er ezperimenta --M -u-ai- cane. Oonducted i>\ \v. r.. Roddenh ( 'air.'. < ia ) ') ( >r_raiii/ati<>n i.f the experiments . , Agricultural «lata Composition and cost of fertiliien IL' Comparison «»f agricultural anf results L'l Conclusiniison the lVrti!i/rrrx|n'riiin'Mts. I'.v NV. I'.. i:.Mli|«-iilM-r\ . L'L' 1 1. Ill-ports nf sj>rcial airi-nts mi siiLrar-caiic culture ion. l'.y. Stnlibs, special a-eut> L'ti ( 'aue i:n»\vii in the vicinity <•!' < iuyt«ai, < ia. P>y Arthur ( ii\cn :;•_' Gvie growing for airap making al Waycroas, Qa. 1-y Ilar<»ld A. I special a^ent Cane growing in the vicinity of Qnitman, Ga. I'.y. I. M. - ial aireiit Cane -jroxv ini: f. >r sirup niakiiiLT in Alahama. I'.y Tln>ma- l'-'':ijrg, special a^ent (Jruuin^ suirar cane f..r sirup making in Mi»i>si|.pi. \\\ II Hudson, special agent .".7 y W. I>. KOOOKNHKKY, Cairo, (Ja. ) In harmony with ;in act of Congress approved rhino tt, I(.HI-_>. n series of experiments was commenced in various sections of the South to ascertain the methods in use for making table sirup from soro-hmn. suo-ar cane, and other sugar-producing plants. The funds for this purpose wore not available for use before July 1. Fortunately, through the liberality of Mr. W. B. Roddenbery, of Cairo, Ga., a series of experiments was hoo-un early in the spring which would not have boon possible without his assistance. ORGANIZATION' OF THE EXPERIMENTS. On February 25, 1902, a letter was received from Mr. Roddenbery inclosing a memorandum of proposed agricultural experiments with sugar cane, and asking that such suggestions and modifications as were deemed advisable be made. The plans submitted for approval, which in the main were excellent, are outlined below, followed by the mod- ifications made: It is proposed that the experiments be made on 24 plate of three rows each, 70 yards long, of ordinary pine land which was planted in collards in the winter of 11)00-1001, and in sweet potatoes in the summer of 1901. The land was rooted by hogs during the fall and broken broadcast by a two-horse plow in January, I'.ML*. The cam- is to be planted in 4o-foot rows about March 1. Two one-horse turn-plow furrows are to be thrown out, leaving a small ridge or balk to be burst by the 8-inch round shovel on the guano distributer as the guano" is being put in the furrow. The cane is to be planted in the same furrow on top of the guano and covered with two 7-inch round-shovel furrows. The second applica- tion of guano will be put out on both sides of each row by a guano distributer when a good stand of cane isup. The third application is to be made in the same manner when the cane is laid by. Subsequent cultivation is to be carried on in the usual way, the cultivations being all alike and made at the same time. The experiments are to be repeated in every detail on another piece of pine land that was planted in velvet beans in 1901, a very rank and heavy growth having been turned under in December, 1901. «In this section the term "guano" is applied to any fertili/er containing acid phosphate, nitrogen, and potash. 5 6 For tlio sandy soil of the fields used the following formula for a standard, normal fertili/er is proposed, the standard amount beinjr 1,2(10 pounds per acre, used in two applications: Pounds. 1 f) per cent acid phosphate 1, 200 S pi-r cent upland meal 400 1!> per cent nitrate of soda 200 ')») per cent muriate of potash 200 In the application of 1,200 pounds of such a fertili/er to an acre, the land would receive the following amounts of plant food: 720 pounds of acid phosphate, 240 pounds of cotton-seed meal, 120 pounds of nitrate of soda, and 120 pounds of muriate of potash. In order to ascertain the hest manner of applying the above formula and also the quantity per acre that would jrive the most profitable results the following applica- tions of this mixture were made to plats 1 to 10, inclusive: TAHI.K I. — AY//ne application in furrow witli cane. Two applications; one when planted, one in spring. Three applications: one when planted, one in spring, one in summer. Broadcast. One application. Two applications. Three applications. One application. Two applications. To ascertain the relative value of the ordinary and the lower irrade fertilizers irem-rally used under cane, plat No. 11 is to receive 1,200 pounds per acre in two applications of the following formula: Pounds. lit per cent acid phosphate 1, 000 s p«-r rent cotton-seed meal 600 Kainit , 400 To ascertain the relative importance of each of the plant foods, and as a «ruide to the mo.-t desirable proportions to be used, the following experiments are to be made on plats Nos. 12 to 17, inclusive, in which each ingredient is omitted and doubled in turn. Two applications of the fertili/er will be made: T \i-.i.i-: II. /•://„, •<'///, ///x //•;/// varying proportions of plant foods on />/ftiii/i'iri'il. IMnl NO, 1 'omuls per acre. Aeid plio* phate. Cotton seed meal. Nitrat ioda, Muriate Of potash. ]v 786 lid 128 1't •j'ji As an additional experiment as to the relative value of cotton seed as an ainmo- niah' (cost, L}."> cents per bushel) and cotton-seed meal (at S-.'I per ton), when applied in the '.istuu (juantity used by the best cane growers, i. e.. .~>u bushels to the acre, the following mixtures were tried on plats Nos. L'O and 21, t wo applications bring made as usual: IV. — <\niij>4 plats, each consisting of four rows 4 feet apart. The fertili/er was applied only to the three rows, the fourth row being unfertilized as a cheek between the plats. Field A is situated in the middle of a 15-aere field of sugar cane and was thus subjected to the ordinary conditions of growth. This lield has been in cultivation about twenty years and is in a low state of fertility, and most of the available plant food was supplied by the fertilizer. The field was planted to sweet potatoes in 1901, was plowed with a two-horse disk plow in January, 190:i, and again plowed just before the cane was planted. On April 3, Field A was planted with stubble cane cut short and placed end to end in the row. Field I) is situated in the middle of a 25-acre field of sugar cane one- half mile distant from Field A. The soil is similar in every r-'spect to Field A, but has been in cultivation only five or six years and is in a much higher state of fertility than Field A. Field B was planted to velvet beans in 1901 and a very rank growth of these beans was plowed under in the autumn of 1901, the field being again plowed just before the cane was planted, namely, on April 4. Stubble cane was also used for this field, which was planted in the same manner as Field A. No special cultivation was given the experimental plats, but they received exactly the same attention as the whole field in which they were situated. Mr. Ralph Iloagland, of Minnesota, was appointed a special agent of the liureaii of Chemistry and detailed to assist Mr. Roddenbery in the harvesting and testing of the crop. The agricultural data were obtained directly at the fields and factory by weighings part of the crop and calculating the entire1 yield from the area harve>ted. Samples from each plat were separately milled and sample- of juices from the mill were secured and transmitted to the Washington laboratory for analysis. The plats on Field A and Field \\ were treated precisely alike in every particular. 9 The following observations as to stand were made on the two fields on the dates o-i TMU.K VI. — Vtuml •>„ /'V/f/x .1 50 The percentages expressing condition of the crop as o-iven in the following table are used in the same sense as such numbers are used by the Bureau of Statistics of this Department in its crop reports: TABLE VII. — < 'omfi/iim rcent. furfifn. ItlfllfS. Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches. 1 90 80 M 49 75 68 60 60 2 BO 7--. M 50 7:, 71 62 49 3 95 80 68 50 71 7:; is shown in the following tabulated observations: TABLE VIII.— f,V,,,W ron./ition of Field A, October 17, 190.'. Plat No. No. of -talks." 878 428 I:;T 408 462 359 ir.l 412 326 324 321 :;i:; 111 469 408 416 328 350 416 398 439 265 General condition of ram-. Fair quality of cane. Tritlc Letter than 1. About tin- same as 2. Do. Good cane: better than 3 and 1. Light stand, fair cane, too much fertilizer in drill. About the same as 5. Do. Much poorer than s, light stand. Same as '.». About the same as 10. Mather ]>oor cane. Very ]>oor cane, not healthy green. Fair cane, far better than 13. Heavy, line cane. Do. Very fair cane, not as good as 15. . Not as good as 17; good cane. Poor stand, fair quality cane. Lighter cane than 19, but not so many gaps. Good cane, much better than 20. Good cane, but not as good as 21. Very good cane. Very poor, short cane. " Number of stalks of cane of fair sixe in middle row of each plat. OBSERVATIONS <>.v FIELD A, NOVEMBER 3. This field of cane will yield fewer tons of cane per acre than Field B, but at this time is much nearer maturity, the dead leaves reaching nearly up to the tuft at the top of the ("inc. Plat 1. Fair cane, good stand; not as good as Field B, plat No. 1. Plat I*. Fairly good cane, stand hetter than plat No. 1. Plat :;. A I .out the -same as plat No. 2. Plat 1. About tin* same as plats Nos. 2 and 3. Plat •">. Wry iri.dil cane, not as good as Field P.. plats Nos. :'. and 5. Plat li. < ;<>,>d as plat No. •">. Plat 7. Very L"""l cane, hetter than plat No. 6. Plat s. Al.uiit the same as plat No. 7. 11 IMat U. IMat 10. Hat 11. IMat 12. IMat li>. IMat 14. Plat 15. IMat HI. IMat 17. IMat IS. IMat H>. IMat 20. IMat 21. IMat 22. IMat 2I5. Plat 24. Fair cane only, fair stand, shows need of more iVrtili/er. Same as plat No. !». Fairly ^ood cane, hetter than plats Nos. '.» or 10. ( 'ane poor to fair, poor stand. Very poor cane, poorer t han plat No. 12: short and yellow. Fairly ijood cane, hetterthan plats Nos. 12 and 1.'!. Very irood cane, hetterthan plat No. II; a trifle hetterthan plats N..S. .", and -I. Very L'ood cane, hetter than plat No. 15; greater diameter <,f stalk, yield will he a trille heavier. Good cane, not quite as heavy as plat No. Hi. (iood eane, ahont the same as plat No. 17. Good cane, abont the same as pUU No. is. Very pour cane, hut little hetterthan the unfertilixed plat. (iood cane, ahoiit the same as plats Nos. .'! or 4. Very good cane, better than plat No. 21. Very p.od cane, helter than plat No. 22. Very poor cane; short, yellow. TABLE IX.— (,'. •///•/• :;77 •AGO General condition of cane. Heavy cane, much better than Field A, plat No. 1. Very heavy cane, about the same as plat No. 1. Very heavy cane, trifle heavier than plat No. 2. Very heavy cane, about the same as plat No. 3. Very heavy cane, heavier than plat No. 4; badly twisted. Good cane, only fair stand, stalks smaller than plat No. 5. Heavy cane, but stalks smaller than plat No. 4. Rather heavy, larger stalks than plat No. 7. Not as good stand nor cane as plats Nos. 7 and 8." ( 'ane good, about the same as plat No. 9. Fair cane, about the same as plat No. 10. Only fair cane, about the same as plat No. 11. Good cane, much better than plat No. 12. Very poor cane, short; light stand, but little better than plat No. 24. Very heavy stand, tall cane, fair diameter: too thick, too much phosphoric acid. Good cane, large diameter, fair height: not as good as plat No. 15. Good cane, about the same as plat No. 16. Very good cane, nearly as good as plat No. 15. Do. Good cane, fair stand. Good cane, poor stand. Good cane, stand uneven. Good cane, not as good as plats Nos. 1 and 2. Poor stand of cane, a trifle better than plat No. 24, Field A. " Number of stalks of fair-si/ed cane in middle row of each plat. OBSERVATIONS ON FIELD B, OCTOBER 30, 1902. The dead leaves were hardly halfway up on the cane. Plat 1. Very heavy cane, good stand. Plat 2. Perhaps trifle heavier than plat No. 1. 12 Plat 3. About the same as pint Xo. 2. Plat 4. A IK nit the same as plat No. 2. Plat 5. Very heavy cane, pt-rhaps a trifle heavier than plat No. 4; badly twisted and down, worse in that respect than plat No. 4. Plat <>. Hravy earn1, but rather poor stand; shows injurious effect of large amount of guano in drills. Plat 7. Kxtra heavy cane, heavier than plats Nos. 3 and 4; large stalks, rather badly twisted. Plat 8. About the same as plat No. 7. Plat !». Very good cane, about the same as plat No. 1. I Mat 10. Same as plat No. 9. Plat 11. Good cane, fair stand, cane perhaps trifle better than plat No. 10. Plat 12. Only fair cane, poor stand, not as good as plats Nos. 9 and 10; shows need of some fertilizing element. Plat i:>. < ' ..... 1 cane, much better than plat No. 12; stalks of good size; shows need of but little ammonia. Plat 14. Fair cane only, not as good as plat No. 13, about the same as plat No. 12; shows need .»f another fertilizing element. Plat 15. Very heavy stand, tall cane, stalks of small diameter and joints long, due to rapid «rn»wth(?). Yield will probably not be greater than that of plats Nos. 5 and 7. Plat Hi. Very heavy cane, large diameter, good height but not as tall as plat No. ir>. i'air*stand. Plat 17. Very tfood cane and stand; diameter yield will be better than plat No. 16 and nearly as good as plat No. 15. Plat is. V«-ry good cane, about the same as plats Nos. 3 and 4. Plat lit. Seems to be a trifle better, heavier cane than on plat No. 18. Plat 20. Cane fair to good; fair stand. Plat 21. Very g- Ammo- nia. (NflbO Water Boluble. Citrate soluble. Avail- able. Total. mu 280H mm MM 28096 BOM \ci0 Sllg g 8 II S r; - 7 '•). i. S 8 §8 53 SMS 2 Is Us ^S Sg 8 S S >o >c co vj£> JCJC JO 12 SS3 to c-i -r cc «!»• JO II -f -f 3 8 g S - S OlOj 16 J|i.jS iip 11 x. li - : II «j 1I~ •r = •A j; • 18 £ 2 S < s = 'C 'C S S 2 £ S S O 1^- 00 00 2 g •H ri s 2 ~ ~ f|| !iH ss i § «§ - o.r 55"§J in S CO CO 85 S 8 8 - - co -r 17 This better quality of sirup would naturally command a better price in the market; therefore the actual financial difference in the results between the two lields would not be so great as would appear from a study of the tonnage data alone. In comparing the yields from Fields A and H it must not be forgotten that the actual fertility of Field 1) is greater than Field A. because it has been a shorter time under cultivation, and in addition to this the crop in Field I> was pre ceded by a leguminous crop, a nitrogen gat hei er which was plowed under, thus adding a large amount of available nitrogen to the sue ceeding crop. In Field A, on the contrary, sweet potatoes had been grown, and this crop adds nothing to the fertility of the soil, but rather tends to diminish it. The basic data for comparison are found in Plat 24, to which no fertilizer i\yas applied. The yield of cane per ton on this plat was 1). \-2 tons in Field A and 12 tons in Field B. It is to be regretted that one or two additional check lots were not provided, since the difference in yield in the two plats 24 in Fields A and B is not so great as one would expect. In other words, although Fields A and I> were treated exactly alike, if you should add only 3 tons per acre to the yield of Field A you would not reach the yield of Field B in many instances. This fact leads to the -inevitable conclusion either that the two plats 24 in each tield do not afford a sufficient comparison, or else the previous treatment of Field B made it unusually well adapted to utilize to the very best advantage the plant foods added in the fertilizer. In another experiment there should be at least four unfertilized plats in each field. Without going over the data in detail it will be interesting to com- pare the yields per acre on the plats which were t reated with the same amount of fertilizer, but applied differently, namely, 1, '1 :!. and 4; 5, (>, 7, and 8; and 9 and 10. It will be evident at once that the nor- mal fertilizer suggested is the best combination of fertilizing material with which experiments were made. The yields per acre, the per- centage of sugar, and the purity of the juice are the data on which our judgment must be based. On Field A with 1,200 pounds of normal fertilizer the average yield was 2<>. 12 tons per acre on plats Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive. On plats Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, with 2,000 pounds of the normal fertilizer we see that the average yield was 22.96 tons per acre, while on plat No. 24, to which no fertilizer was applied, the yield was 9.12 tons per acre. These data show that on Field A the application of the normal ferti lizer more than doubled the yield when applied at the rate of 1,200 pounds; while with the use of 2,000 pounds per acre the yield was increased almost exactly 152 per cent. Where the application dropped to 800 pounds per acre the average yield was also very satisfactory, being almost exactly double the yield without fertilizer. The appli- 24060— No. 75—03 2 18 cation of the fertilizer on plat No. 11 was less efficacious, while the fertilizers on plats Nos. 12, 13, and 14 were still less remunerative. Plats Nos. 15, 16, and 17, however, gave good results; plats Nos. 18 and 19 fair results; plat No. 20 poor results; and plats Nos. 21, 22, and 23 also good. Plats Nos. 12, 13, and 14 perhaps are the most instructive in Field A, for they show that a complete fertilizer is absolutely necessary to give the best results. To plat No. 12 no potash was added, to plat No. 13 no nitrogen, and to plat No. 14 no acid phosphate. The most striking feature of this part of the experiment is that nitrogen is shown to be the most deficient element in the soil of Field A. since when no nitrogen was added the yield per acre was only a little above 1 ton more than when no fertilizer was added. The next most impor- tant plant food to the crop is potash, and the third phosphoric acid. Turning to Field B, we find, of course, a different condition of affairs, for in that field a natural fertility of the soil exists. On plats Nos. 12, 13, and 14 good crops were grown, showing that no fertilizing ele- ment was altogether absent. Tn the blank plat the yield was about 33 per cent higher than in Field A. The fertilizers, as a rule, give larger results on Field B than on Field A. For instance, 1,200 pounds on plats Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, Field B, produce an average }deld of 27.81 tons per acre — that is, an increased average yield of 15.81 tons per acre — while on plats Nos. 5 to 8, 2,000 pounds of normal fertilizer pro- duce an average yield of 31.87 — that is, an increased yield of 19.87 tons per acre. In Field B it is also seen that the 800 extra pounds of normal fertilizer applied to plats Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, produced a yield of nearly 4 tons per acre in excess of the yield of plats Nos. 1 to 4 with 1,200 pounds of fertilizer. If we value the cane at $3 per t arc types, is concerned, the 19 mixture characterized as normal fertilizer, and consisting of arid phosphate, rotton-sivd mral, nitrate of soda, and inuriatr of potash, affords the best financial returns. In regard to the quantities to he used, the results of the experiments show conclusively that from son to 1,200 pounds per acre Will yield the best financial results. \Yhile a larger crop is secured on the poorer soils by the use of L'.iMin pounds nf this mixture to the acre, the increase does not justify the additional cost of the fertilizing materials. Perhaps the most striking result based upon the data obtained from the plats of the two fields is shown in the fact that the large quantity of nitrogen made available by plowing under the crop of velvet beans on Field B can not be fully assimilated by the growing crop unless the Other essential plant foods are supplied. As has been mentioned before, in the unfertilized plat of Field B the yield of cane was a little less than 3 tons greater than on the unfertilized plat, of Field A. If, however, the other essential elements of pl.int food are supplied the increased yield due to the presence of the decaying velvet beans is at once apparent. On plat No. 12 of Field B we find that 720 pounds of acid phosphate were used and a yield of 19.70 tons were secured. which is 7.7 pounds of miniate of potash per acre were employed, the yield is 2-4.4 tons, being 12.4 tons in excess of the yield of plat No. 24. On plat No. 14, where 120 pounds of muriate of potash were used, and no acid phos- phate, the yield was 1S.S tons, being 6.8 tons above the yield of plat- No. 24. On plats Nos. 12 and 14 a considerable quantity of nitrogen was used in the fertilizer, while in plat No. l:-> no additional nitrogen was used. The data from these three plats show very conclusively that the velvet beans supplied practically all the nitrogen necessary to produce a large crop. Nevertheless, on comparing plats Nos. IL' to 14, inclusive, with plats Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, it is seen that where all the essential plant foods are present the addition of an increased amount of nitrogen shows a considerable increase in the yield. In plats Nos. 18 and 19 a comparison is made of the utility of nitrogen in the form of cotton-seed meal and in the form of nitrate of soda; the quantity of phosphoric acid and potash applied to these two plats were as nearly the same as possible — that is, the phosphoric acid and the potash in the cotton-seed meal added to that given as acid phosphate and muriate of potash would make the quantities of these two fertilizing elements in plat No. 18 the same as those added to the fertilizer applied to plat No. 19. The results of the experiments show that there is practically no difference in the availability of tha nitrogen applied as cotton-seed meal and as nitrate of soda, the tonnage in the plats compared being almost identical in Field B. In plats Nos. 2o and 21 a comparison is made between the nitrogen in cotton-seed meal and 20 in cotton seed. The quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash applied on the two plats were practically the same. In this case it appears that nitrogen in the form of cotton seed was more effective than in the form of cotton-seed meal. Additional data, however, would be required before asserting positively that such is the case. In plats Nos. 22 and 23 a comparison is made between the value of potash as kainit and potash as muriate. The data obtained show that there is no difference in the availability of the potash in these two forms. In plat No. 11 a fertilizer was employed in which the phos- phoric acid and potash was supplied from low-grade materials instead of the high grade as used in preparing the normal fertilizer. The result of this one test is not detinitc, but seems to indicate that it is advisable to use a higher grade material. EFFECT OF .SOIL AND FERTILIZERS ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CANE. The principal effect which the soil has upon the crop is shown in the quantity which is produced. It is well known, however, that the character of the soil also influences to a greater or less extent the chemical composition of the crop. Crops which are grown in a very fertile- soil are usually coarser in texture than those grown in one In- fertile. If, therefore, we are seeking for a particular flavor, taste, or character of product it is to be remembered that the fertility of the soil has an influence of quite a marked character in many of these particulars. If we examine the quantity of sugar contained in the cane grown on plat No. 24 of Field A, we find that the juice of the cane contained 15.72 per cent of sucrose and 0.44 per cent of reducing sugar with a purity of 91.4 per cent. This typical composition of the juice is shown by all the crops on Field A. It is a remarkable show- ing of purity and high sucrose content with a low reducing sugar content. The quantity of sugar in these canes and the purity of their juices compare favorably with the data obtained from sugar canes grown under favorable conditions in the Tropics. In fact, it appears that the purity is, as a rule, higher than that of the juices of tropical sugar canes. The effect of the fertilizer on Field A is not very marked in so far a-> variations in chemical composition are concerned. Twelve of the fertilized plats. \ ix, Nos. 1, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, and 23 have a higher content of sugar than plat No. 24, and the other eleven have a lower sugar content. In regard to the purity of the juices, seven of the fertilized plats, vix. Nos. 1, 5, 14, 15, 18, 21, arid 23, have a higher purity than plat No. iM, and the others a lower purity. In this enumeration plat No. 13 is excluded, since the number express! no- the purity a^ recorded is evidently an error and the data are not at hand to ascertain the magnitude of the mistake. In regard to reducing Migar, ten plats, vix, Nos. 2, :>* «',. 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, and !'.». have a larger amount than plat No. '2-1. Four have 21 the same amount, vix. Xos. :>. Id. -J-J. and •_':',. and the other- a ^mailer quantity, It is seen that the general ell'ect of the added fertili/ers on the coin- position of the juices is unimportant. If we compare, on the other hand, the character of the canes in Field B with plat '1 \ of Field A. we see at once a marked inferiority in the juices. This is shown both in t lie- lower content of sucrose, a higher content of reducing sugar, and a lower purity. Not one of the plats in Field \\ produced a juice having as high sugar content, as small a quantity of reducing Migar. <>r a- high purity as the juice of the cane on plat -_M of Field A. Inasmuch as the same quantities of fertilixers were added to Field A and Field \\. the conclusion is evident that t he inferior character of the cane grown on Field P> was due to the comparative newness of the soil ftnd to the influence of the heavy crop of velvet beans plowed under during the previous season. It is not to be inferred from the above that the chemical duiracterof the canes grown on Field P> was low; on the contrary, they art1 of quite an excellent composition, both in con- tent of sugar and in purity of juice. The inferiority, therefore, is in their comparison with th(4 canes grown on Field A. The logical con- clusion to be drawn from this discussion is that the large excess of available nitrogen and organic nitrogenous matter in the soil, while tending to produce a large crop, also has a decided tendency to diminish the excellence and purity of the product. It would be quite logical to infer from the above data that the canes grown on Field A would make a better quality of sirup, having a brighter color, and bringing a larger pi-ice in the market than that yielded by the same weight of canes grown on Field B. SUMMARY OF RESULTS. (1) Velvet beans have a high value as a fertilizing agent, but this value reaches its maximum only when other essential elements of plant food other than nitrogen are applied in the fertilixer. (2) In the application of fertilizing materials it is far better not to apply the whole amount at the time of or before planting, but to apply a part of the fertilizer at the time of planting and the rest at intervals during the growing season. (3) In regard to the amount of the fertilizer to be applied to obtain the best financial results, it appears that l,2oo pounds of the normal fertilizing material is probably the best amount for Field A. while for Field B a larger amount of this fertilizer may be used. It is plain, however, in this case, that the increased amount of fertilixer could be more profitably secured by adding larger quantities of phosphoric acid and potash and a smaller quantity of the nitrogenous constituents. On Field A there was a profit in using 1,200 or even :i.nno pound* of the fertilizer per acre rather than 800 pounds, but on Field 1. there was no 22 profit in vising 1,200 pounds rather than 800 pounds, and a slight profit in using 2,000 instead of 800. In general it may be said that on land which contains a high percentage of fertilizing materials, as found in Field I), it is not advisable to use over 800 or 1,000 pounds of normal fertilizer per acre, while on land possessing only a normal natural fertility, as in Field A. 1,200 to 1,500 pounds per acre of normal fer- tilizer may be used to advantage. (4) It is evident that fertilizers such as phosphoric acid and potash which contain large quantities of fertilizing ingredients give better results than those which contain small quantities. (5) Muriate of potash apparently gives somewhat better results than kainit, especially on Field A. (6) Nitrate* of soda, upon the whole, seems to be a more satisfactory source of nitrogen than cotton seed and cotton-seed meal at practically the same cost. (7) Sodium nitrate, however, should be added in small quantities at a time and at rather frequent intervals to avoid loss by leaching during the heavy rains. Cotton seed is a more expensive fertilizer than sodium nitrate or cotton-seed meal. (8) On soils represented by Field A more nitrogen is needed in the fertilizer in proportion to the potash and phosphoric acid than on Field B, and vice versa. (9) It is evident that excessive amounts of any single fertilizing ingredient are inadvisable, because the plants can not assimilate the excess. The ration for a plant should be carefully balanced to meet the requirements, basing the character of the fertilizer on the amount of available plant food already in the soil, and adding to the fertilizer larger quantities of the elements missing in the soil and diminishing in the fertili/er those elements which are abundant therein. It will be interesting also in this connection to note the conclusions reached by Mr. Koddenbery from a study of the data given in Table XII. In this case we have the conclusions deduced by a practical man of a Hairs illustrating the fact that such scientific data have an imme- diate and extremely practical value when placed in the hands of a thinking business man. though he may not be a scientist. Mr. Rod- denhery's deductions are as follows: (•ONVM'SIONS ON TIIK KKKTII.I/.KK I : \ I'Ki: I \I KNTS. I'.V W. H. UoKDENBKRY. FIKI.M A. (1) A high percentage' of nit rogen assists germ 'mat ion and favors suck- ering. Compare plats NOB. 5, 7, 8, and 1<> with !>. in. 11, i:;. and 24. (•_') When applied, however, in the furrow with seed cane, heavy ferlili/ation with complete fertilizers prevents germination. See plat No. 15 as to stand. 28 (3) Nitrate of soda i> a better source of nitrogen than cotton-seed meal Or COtton Seed, Compare plat No. ll» with Nos. 11, is. i?o. and iM. (4) Cotton seed is not :i profitable fertili/er for sugar cane. Com- pare plats Nos. -jo and i_M with No>. :',. 7. 1<>. and *2'.\. Cotton seed meal gives Si 1 p,.r acre more profit than the same value in cotton seed. Compare plat No. IS with plat No. 20. (In all estimates of profits cane is valued at s I per ton.) Nit rate of soda shows S| •_> per ton more profit than the ^ame value in cotton-seed meal. Compare plat No. 19 with No. is. (5) Two application* of the fertili/er give the he>t IV>U!N. (6) Doubling potash shows no gain in tonnage over that given by the normal fertili/er. and the general trend of the experiments indi- cates about 50 pounds of actual potash per acre as homo- the mo-t profitable amount for this soil. (7) Doubling nitrogen shows a gain of ;j to &\ tons ]>er acre over the tonnage given by the normal fertilizer and about SD p«.r acre more profit, [n general, the experiment indicates 65 pounds of nitrogen pel- acre as the most profitable proportion for this soil, the source of the nitrogen to be mainly nitrate of soda. (8) Doubling phosphoric acid gives no gain over the tonnage given by the normal fertilizer, but for some unknown reason shows a decrease of 1£ tons per acre and a gain of only 3£ tons per acre over the u no phosphoric acid" plat, No. 14. In general the experiment- point to 100 pounds per acre of phosphoric acid as a sufficient amount for this land. (i>) All the results indicate that the following formula will ir'ive the fertilizer most suitable for a land like Field A: Pounds. 12.5 JUT rent arid phosphate 800 (100 pounds phosphoric add = 7.7 per rent ). Cotton-seed meal. . . 1001,^ Nitrate , ,f soda 300/( P°m mtn W'" " ^ l™ ™*]- Muriate of potash 100 (50 pounds actual pot a> 1 1 3.8 per cent). FIELD B. (1) No special effect on the stand was noted a^ a result of the differ- ent fertilizers, except that plat. No. 6 had a very poor stand at fii-t: but this was overcome later by heavy suckering, which was probably the result of a large application of nitrogen to this plat. (2) No difference was noted due to the source of the nitrogen, nitrate of soda and cotton-seed meal showing the same tonnage. (3) Cotton seed is not as good as the same value in cotton-seed meal. Compare plats Nos. 18 and 20. (tt) Two applications give the best results. (5) Doubling the potash gave no gain over the normal potash ration, and the general trend of the experiments points to ~>n pounds per acre of actual potash as being sufficient on a soil of this kind. 24 (6) Doubling the nitrogen gives the same tonnage as the " no nitro- gen '• plats. Compare plats Nos. 13 and 1(>, both of which give 4 tons less per acre than the normal ration. The general trend of the experi- ments points to the need of a very small application of nitrogen; pos- sibly none would have been more profitable, but 20 pounds per acre is certainly sufficient. (7) Doubling the acid phosphate gives a gain of 13 tons per acre over the "no acid phosphate" plat and a gain of 3 tons over the normal ration. In general the need of a larger application of phos- phoric acid is shown, and probably about 200 pounds of this fertilizer per acre would be the most profitable proportion. (8) All results indicate that the following formula for a fertilizer would give the best results on such land as Field A, on which a heavy growth of velvet beans had been grown and plowed under the previous year: Pounds. 12.5 per cent acid phosphate 1, 600 (200 pounds phosphoric acid=ll.l per cent). Nitrate of soda 100 (nitrogen = l per cent). Muriate of potach 100 (50 pounds actual potash =2. 72 per cent). REPORTS OF SPECIAL AGENTS ON THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. ivruont CTION. Hy (i. I,. Si-KNCKi:, rl,i,f ,,f Si/ijar I.ulinnttori/. is probably not :i State, Territory, nor possession of tin- I'nitcd States, with the exception of Alaska, in which sirup, or a >emi>oli, 7i:> acres, or 87.8 per cent of the total, of which Louisiana contributed SI. 5 percent. There were 50 acres reported from Ari/ona in tin- Western division. The increase in area since 18S9 in the South Atlantic division was 43.6 per cent, and in the South Central division 40..'] per cent. The above figures indicate that comparatively little cane is grown for sirup making except in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, since the cane in Louisiana and Texas is almost exclusively employed in sugar manufacture. The increase in the South Atlantic division of 43.6 percent is largely due to the expansion of the industry in Georgia. The Census report cited gives the total number of gallons of sirup produced as 12,293, <>:'>:_>. the greater part of which was consumed as table sirup. A consider- able quantity of sirup is produced in Louisiana and sold to the sugar factories. There are no data in the Census report to show whet he r this sirup is excluded from the returns for table sirup, but in any event these figures indicate the present magnitude of the cane-simp industry. The Census report gives the following additional data in regard to sorghum sirup: In 1899, 446,621 farmers produced from 293,152 acres 1, 911,040 tons of sorghum cane. Of this they sold 291,703 tons and from the remaining product manufactured 16,972,783 gallons of sirup. Of the total area devoted to sorghum, the North Atlantic division reported li'H acres and the South Atlantic 54,152 acres, or 18.5 per cent of the whole, of which Georgia and North Carolina together contributed 69.4 per cent. 25 26 The North Central division contained 92,166 acres, or 31.4 per cent of the whole, of which Kansas and .Missouri together contributed •"><>. 1 per cent. In the South Central division there were 145,812 acres, or 49.7 per cent of the whole, of which Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas together furnished 88.1 percent. The Western division contained S'.H; acres, or ().."> per cent ol the whole, of which 371 acres were in Utah. The North Atlantic division contained 0.1 per cent of the total acreage. There was a decrease in area since 1889 of 21). "> per cent. From these figures, showing a total production of table sirup amount- ing to 29,265,815 gallons from cane grown by more than r>oo,000 farmers, the importance of this industry and its extent are apparent. Louisiana has long been a producer of a favorably-known sirup termed "open-kettle molasses/' while (Jeorghi, Florida, and other Gulf State> have lands upon which cane can be grown that produces si nip of excep- tionally good flavor. The agricultural phase of the industry as it is now being developed in this section of the country is illustrated by the following reports of the special agents who have during the past year investigated the agricultural conditions and methods now existing. SUGAR-CANE CULTURE AT CAIRO, (JA. By RALPH HOAGI.AND ;m«l R. D. STUBBS, <(/ A. Wight, president of the Cane Growers' Association of Cairo, the following points were derided upon for study and investigation: 1 ) Best fertilizer for tonnage of cane. 2) Best fertilizer for sucrose content. 3) Effect of potash in effecting early development of sucrose. (4) Best method of application of fertilizers. (5) Amount of fertilizer that can he profitably used per acre. (6) Difference in sucrose content at time of full development, of cane fertilized with arid phosphate and potash and ammonia in excess, and of cane fertilized with normal fertilizer. (7). Careful noting of any differences that may appear in any respect in cane raised on velvet-bean land as compared with cane on potato land. - hifferences in flavor of sirup made from cane receiving different fertilizers. (9) Differences in purity coellicients of cane receiving different fertilizers. (10) Determination, by measurement and weighing, of tonnage per acre in various fields to obtain tin- average yield per acre. (2) To determine maximum yield. (11) Average juice extraction at various mills of different types. (12) Fall planting of cane. ' I:; i Planting of tops. i 1 I i I'.f.-t method of saving stubble. Variety tests, and breeding of cane to increase suci-ose content. i hi) I'.est and >implest method of clarification for small factories; for steam fac- tories. (17) Kffect of sulphur and lime upon quality of sirup. The comments on the fertilizer experiments are found in Part I of this bulletin, even one year's work being very instructive as to some points, while in regard to Others, such as methods of planting, cultivation, saving seed, etc., several years' 27 work woul'd be necessary to obtain conclusive results. The following general obser- vations, however, on these jioints may be o!' interest: \iifmr •>/ tfn- Intnl. — The land is cut-over pim- laud, of which the surface >..j| is a sandy loam and the subsoil a red clay. The water supply is <|iiite near the surface and the laud rat her lex el, but rolling enough to give Lr<>od d raiu:i'_re. The natural fertility of the laud is lo\\ and fert ili/.ers are needed for all crops. e\eii on new land. Fields which have been long in cult i vat ion and have received lilt le or no ortranic manures do not respond readily t<> heavy applications of <•• numercial fert ili/.ers. \\\\\< showing the need of humus in the soil. VJ can,' iilmilnl.— The common purple cane is the only variety planted extensively here for commercial purposes. Some green ami ribbon cane is gr< >wn, but it is not as well liked as the purple. Mr. Wight, of ( 'aim, in IDOL', planted two- thirds of an acre of cane known as No. 71. sent to him by I'r. \Y.('. Stubbs, of the Louisiana Sugar Kxperiment Station. This variety has a dark green color, growing very erect, but showing in this experiment no increase in tonnage over |>nrple cane and a decrease in sucrose. The sirup produced from this cam-, \\hiledearand light in color, had such a salty flavor that it was not deemed advisable to can it. The cam- was planted on high, dry land, but has a taste as though grown around horse lots, which was not the case. l>r. Smiths in writing in regard to tin- experiment, with this cane said: No. 74 is one of our seedling canes, grown very successfully in the State. It is of early maturity, tine tonnage, rich in sucrose, a good soft cane, giving an extraction in our 9-roller mills of SO per cent. I would not, by any means, take the first deter- minations you have made to be conclusive in regard to the value of this cane in your section. I believe it will have by the end of the season a much better showing, and on account of its excellent properties, besides its larger sucrose content, it is a cam- greatly to he desired. Kxperimeuts with this variety of cane will be continued another year. In coin- paring the Georgia and Louisiana cane, I>r. stubbssaid further: Your canes in (Jeorgia. are richer than ours here, and while the tonnage is mucn less, the manufacturer has less ditiiculty in sugarhouscs in evaporating the juice. When sugar returns to its former value of -I or ."> cents a pound, ( ieorgia will unques- tionably figure in manufacturing sugar. A stalk of ribbon cane 11 feet 10 inches long was brought into Cairo OB I >ecember!», H»()L', by M. J. Harrison. rri'imrnlinn <>j fund, />/ break the crust, if any be formed, which offers resistance to the young plants. When the cane sprouts a scooter furrow is run over each side, to aid in the development of suckers. No soil is thrown back until there is a sullicient number of suckers to insure a full stand? when it is sided with sweeps. The question of suckering is very important, and presents opportunity for further investigation as to the best time to plant cane in order to get the largest number of suckers, and how to cultivate them that they may be vigorous and develop quickly. The remaining cultivation is effected with a weeding hoe, and about July 1 the cane is laid by with live furrows to the row with a broad sweep. FeriHiz'ition. — Fertilixation is necessary to the growth of sugar cane in this section, and it is the most complex and perplexing problem which confronts the planter oi 28 - southern Georgia; Various points must be considered in selecting a fertilizer, among them the resulting tonnage, sucrose content, and quality of product, in connection with the cost of the fertilizer. For instance, a fertilizer giving a very large yield might give a small sucrose content, and vice versa. It must also be determined whether the soil most needs phosphoric acid, nitrogen, or potash, what amounts of each will be most profitable, and what is the best time and method for applying the fertilizer. It is well known among fruit growrers that potash promotes the early ripening of fruits, and the question arises as to whether the analogy would hold good for sugar cane, causing an early development of sucrose. A number of experiments along these lines, made at Mr. Roddenbery's plantation, are given in detail in Part I of this bulletin. In general, however, far too little attention is paid to the question. The fertilizer commonly used per acre is from 15 to 25 bushels of cotton seed and 800 pounds of guano, having about the following composition: 9 per cent of phosphoric acid, 2 per cent of nitrogen, 3 per cent of potash. Large amounts of cotton seed are used by nearly all the planters, some using as much as 90 bushels to the acre, although 25 bushels is the usual amount. The fertilizer is put on in two applica- tions— one in the furrow with the cane and the other in drills at each side of the row later on in the summer. In using cottonseed and. guano the cottonseed and half the guano are applied in the drill with the seed cane, while the remainder of the guano is applied in drills later in the season. Barnyard manure or compost is highly prized as a fertilizer for cane, and gives much larger returns than its mere fertilizing constituents could produce. It is not only necessary that fertilizers be used during the cultivation of cane, but some form of humus must be added to the soil continually in order to prevent a decrease in the fertility. Two legumes are used for increasing fertility, viz, velvet beans and cow peas. Velvet bean land showed a distinct superiority over rye land with the same amount of fertilizer on both, and when plowed under as a green manure or pastured off by stock thebeans undoubtedly have a very beneficial effect upon theland. Besides adding nitrogen to the soil, the beans probably help to make inert plant food available through the addition of humus to the soil, as does barnyard manure. The question arises, however, as to whether cow peas can not be more profitably grown for this purpose, although the velvet beans may add somewhat more fertility to the soil. The 1 wans have a very rank growth, and can be used for feeding purposes only by grazing, causing of course a large waste, whereas if peas are planted together with corn, after they have performed their function of supplying nitrogen to the soil, the farmer gathers enough to plant next year's crop, and probably 15 bushels of corn per acre. Or the peas may be sown broadcast and mowed, making the finest hay obtainable. The question of obtaining food for stock confronts the farmers of this section, as the land naturally furnishes very poor pastures. For this reason velvet beans are used on only a few of the extensive plantations, and corn and peas are generally planted for an " upbuilder." In regard to the question of cottonseed versus cottonseed meal, which is touched upon under fertilizer experiments, Mr. Wight, of Cairo, thinks that if cottonseed meal is used correctly, in proper proportion and properly applied, better results can be obtained than by using cottonseed, (lood results have hern obtained, however, by using the seed as a top dressing in middles when cane is laid by, the general opinion among the farmers being that cottonseed makes just as good a manure after sprouting as before. A disadvantage in using a large amount of seed is that the cane is frequently attacked by wood lice. This can be prevented, however, by mixing the need with guano containing phosphoric acid before applying. The usual amount of cottonseed applied is 15 bushels per acre, while of cottonseed meal 400 bushels per acre is used. While drainage is not a question with the south (Jeorgia planter, the best cultiva- tion during a drouirh:. is a practical issue, and here again fertilization must be 00H- 29 sidered, for oftentimes a fertili/.er thai would make tin- best cane if there were plenty of rain would ruin the crop if dry weather prevailed. I/iinrxthiti of CCOte.- Sirup making usually begins during the latter part of < >rtober. This year (1902) grinding generally began on ( >ctober L'7, although some small mills started a week or ten days earlier. Cutting begins when the juice tests about K° Baume or when most of the leaves of the cane, except the tuft at the top. an- dead. The cane is stripped a short time before cutting, topped and cut clo-e to the ground with a broad, heavy hoc. The patent stripper is very satisfactory when the cane is fairly straight. The implement generally used in this section is a cane stripper which has a flattened handle about ."..I feet Imiir. to one end of \\ hi,-h a steel spring is attached by means of a slide bolt. The cant' in pushed through the opming int.. the oval portion of the spring and the implement pushed down the stalk, thus removing the leaves. The top, above the first red joint in the ra.se of the purple cane, is taken off with a corn knife just before the cane is cut. The farmers in this vicinity make no use of the tops, though they have been tried for seed and given good results, the cane from them giving just as large a tonnage and as much sirup as cane from stubble. The cane is cut only a short time before hauling to the mill, very little In-intent ahead. Negroes strip, top, cut, and pile up the cane at convenient distances apart on every third n>w for from $3.75 to $4.50 per acre. An ordinary wagon is used for hauling, and two large hemp ropes are laid in the wagon and the cane placed straight upon them. The load being procured, the ropes are tied, and thus you have two large bundles of cane on the wagon, which are lifted off by machinery at the mill and placed in position. Mr. T. Wight's two-horse wagons generally haul from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds of cane per load. Cane that is stripped but not topped and left standing in the field does not increase in sucrose any more rapidly than cane that is not stripped. To try the effects of stripping and topping the cane and of leaving it unstripped and untopped before cutting, samples for analysis were taken under the following conditions: A. Samples of cane stripped ten days before cutting, and topped when cut. B. Samples of cane topped and stripped ten days before cutting, from the same plat as sample A. C. Sample of cane stripped and topped when cut from the same plat as sample A. Bo. Samples of cane stripped and topped when cut, to replace sample ( ', which was not a good average sample. The canes from which the different experiments were made wen- harvested at Cairo, Ga., on November 11, 1902, and analyzed as soon as they reached Washington, D. C. The analytical data obtained on these samples are as follows: TABLE XIII. — <>f cam'* liurn-xtnl mxlir m/-/////// Sample. Bucroee. Purity. Kr< lacing sugar. Per cent. . Percent. A. 1 1 . 88 80.6 1.56 B. 11. as 8L7 1.21 C. 13.63 83.1 1.38 B 3. 12.66 7'.' 1.94 From these data it is seen that it is not a good policy to strip or top the cane before cutting. Both samples A and B were inferior to samples C and B 3, and markedly inferior to C. Sample C, however, is not regarded as a typical sample. Samples A and B were superior to B 3 in having a smaller content of reducing sugar and a higher purity. This superiority, however, in only from a chemical point of view and not from a sirup-making standpoint. In other words, a sirup made from sample B 3 would be less likely to granulate than a sirup from samples A and B. The total quality of sirup-making materials is obtained by adding together the sucrose and the reducing sugar. Judging from these tests, samples C and B 3 are positively superior to A and B N/ /•///// Kfnhhli'fni- xecd cane. — No cane is planted in the fall in this vicinity, as first- year stubble usually supplies sufficient seed cane. .Many planters do nothing to save stubble and hence first-year stubble cane is very uncertain, and at best but a poor crop. Some planters, however, save the seed cane in the following way: The cane is dug up by the roots during the latter part of October, just before the grinding season begins, placed in large windrows 4 to 5 feet wide and 2 to 3 feet deep, the tops of the cane lapping the butts and covered with a few inches of dirt from two or three furrows thrown up on each side of the windrow. Cane so stored in well-drained land keeps very well through the winter. But very little first year planted cane is used for seed. In saving seed cane it is calculated that 1 acre of good cane will plant 6 acres, or if the cane is short, f> acres. Datf Mr. ]-'. II "«////. — Mr. Wight planted about .">:; acres \\ith purple cane bet ween March b~>and April I. The cult i vat ion was ninch the same BS that already described, the fertili/.er used bein.tr as follows: Kight hnnilred pounds of guano ('.» percent phosphoric acid. 1' percent of ammo- nia, and .'I per cent of pot ash 1, at SI '•> per ton; :!()(> pounds of cot ton -seed meal, at *!'.">. 10 per ton: 1"> bushels of cotton seed, at L'.~> cents per bushel. Total co-t per acre, S| J.Sfl. Four hundred pounds of guano and l-~> bushels of cotton seed \\,.re put in the drill when the cane was planted; 100 pounds were put in siding furrows, and iioil pounds of meal in the middle when the cane \\as laid by. The following estimates as t<> the profits on raising sugar cane for sirup making in southern < ieorgia, involving the consideration of the advisability of having one cen- tral mill for each community fitted out with the most modern machinery procurable, an- taken from an address made by Mr. Wight before the fourth animal convention of the Association of Commissioners of Agriculture of theCotton < J rowing States, held at Nashville. Term., in August, 1902: A/>/>ro.riliif briinjniij 1 dcri' of xnijtir en in' to nnttiirihj ami niaiinfact n rim/ it into xiniji. Seed cane to plant 1 aere -^g*-»" n i^^ $10. 00 1-Vrt i li/er Cultivation and rent of land f. P^THE _X 10. 00 Stripping and hauling 1- -UNIVERSITY' v 10.00 Manufacturing into sirup V. -of * ' 20. 00 Thirteen empty barrels, at $1.10 each ^^E^t'/FORV ' 4' :'° Total cost 74. 30 Thirteen barrels of sirup (32 gallons per barrel), at 25 cents per gallon 104. 00 Profit per acre $29. 70 In case the farmer has no mill and gets a neighbor to make his sirup, the cane grower delivers the cane at the mill, the mill owner bears all the expense of manu- facturing, each pays for the barrel to hold his share of the sirup, and the, owner receives three- fourths of the product and the manufacturer the remainder. Tn such a case the account of the grower stands thus: Cost of growing and delivering cane at mill 40. 00 9| empty barrels 10. 73 Total cost 50. 73 9| barrels (312 gallons) of sirup, at 25 cents per gallon 78. 00 Net profit to grower per acre 27. 27 A comparison of these figures with those of other field crops of this section shows sugar cane to have the advantage. It is also to be noted that the figures given rep- resent only an average crop, sometimes as much as 800 gallons of sirup per acre being obtained. In the States east of Louisiana 99 per cent of cane is manufactured into sirup, which brings up the question of overproduction. But when 90 per cent of the sirup sold in grocery stores is an inferior and adulterated product and the demand fora good quality of sirup is increasing, no fear from this source need be entertained. In regard to the increased demand for good sirup which has been developed at Cairo, Mr. Wight says: Sixteen years ago it was hard to find a market for the 1,500 barrels of sirup annually shipped from the town, and one crop was frequently not sold before another was produced. Now that a better grade of goods is being made, IL',O('(I bar- rels of sirup are easily sold before another crop is produced. This sirup is marketed from Massachusetts to Texas, 3,644 barrels of last year's crop going from Cairo to the latter State alone. 32 As would be expected from the known effect of the quality and grade of land on the sucrose content of cane, the sirup produced from cane grown on the higher lighter lands of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida is of a better quality than that produced on the low alluvial lands of Louisiana. In regard to sugar cane versus sugar beets the following data are given: The cost of growing an acre of sugar beets, exclusive of the rent of the land, aver- ages $30. The average yield is 10 tons per acre, which sell at from $4 to $4.50 per ton. This gives gross returns varying between $40 and $54 and a net profit of from $10 to $24 per acre. These figures give sugar cane an advantage of from $8 to $9 per acre over beets. The cane in 1902, until about November 20, was not as sweet as usual, because the autumn was late and exceedingly warm and the cane continued to grow and there- fore matured very slowly. This was a disadvantage to farmers having a large acre- age, as they could not wait until the most suitable time for making sirup because the limited capacity of the mills would in such a case prolong the time of manufacturing too far. The following table shows the composition of the cane juices as obtained at the factories of J. B. and T. Wight: TABLE XIV. — Composition of (xme j^^^s sampled Cairo, a«. the fa^^ories of J. />'. "//. c.-j J.B.Wight T Wight Do Do Do o,-t. :;<• Oct. 31 Nov. 1 Nov. 3 Nov. :> Nov. r, Nov. 7 do J.B.Wight .... Do T Wight Do Do Do Do Nov. 20 Nov. 21 Nov. 24 Nov. -jr. Nov. 26 Nov. 27 Nov.' 28 Do Do. * Do Do J.B.Wight Do Do Do Do Nov. 10 Nov. 11 Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Do T.Wight Do Do 11.42 1.68 77.49 Do CAM. <;KO\VI\<: IN THE VICINITY OF GUYTON, GA. By ARTHUR GIVEN, Special Agent. The country about Guyton is very well adapted to cane growing. It in flat, with a slight slop,- toward the Ogeechee River. The soil is a rich black loam with clay sub- soil at a depth of from 8 inches to 2 feet. Someof the land is rather high, with light soil, and docs not produce large cane crops. The lower land requires to h«> drained as in Louisiana. South and east of (iuyton is a great extent of swamplands which, if cleared ami drained, would make valuable cane land. Kvery fanner in this part of the State grows from one-quarter to 2 or :'. ACret <>f cane, and some of them as much as from 5 to 20 acres. The largest of the mills in this vicinity is that of Mr. J. T. Wells, where cane juices were sampled for the analy.-es given in the following table. The cane was from farms near ( iuyton and from two plantations at Halcyon Daleand Pooler, 10 and 1 J miles distant, respectively, from Guyton by rail. 33 TABLE XV. — »f #n nt. 1.97 3.12 2.01 2. 40 H 1.74 1.40 2.42 2.32 •J. 4-J 2.42 .62 .32 .48 .29 .34 1.39 2.28 2.56 76.97 66.75 68.89 66.52 74.05 77.44 71.18 70.70 69.64 69.27 76.64 77.65 81.69 81.52 82.58 78.29 71.56 69.25 1902. Dec 13 I'd- 0 lit. 9.43 10.39 9.95 8.99 9.50 11.08 10.26 9.82 10.50 9.69 12.00 10.16 9.01 9.42 Percent. 2.86 2.14 2.87 2,86 2.88 2.02 2.56 2.76 3.18 3.23 1.64 2.30 2.83 2.78 64. 14 72.16 72.63 62.42 62.08 72.42 62.94 62.54 64.03 60.18 74.53 68.18 67.24 65.86 24 15 28 16 29 17 Dec. 1 . . 18 •> 19 •2 22 2 23 2 27 •> 29. 3 30 4 31 5 1903. 8 9 10 Average 11 10.50 2.24 70.69 1° CANE GROWING FOR SIRUP MAKING AT WAYCROSS, GA. By HAROLD A. IVES, Special Agent. Sugar cane is the most important crop grown in this vicinity and will be planted next year to a greater extent than ever before. The soil here seems to be perfectly adapted to the successful raising of the several varieties of sugar cane — purple, green, and ribbon — the purple cane, however, being more extensively used than the other two varieties. Cotton seed and cotton-seed meal are the fertilizers most used, although when available cow-pen fertilizer has the preference. The plan followed by most of the farmers is to fertilize before planting and again when the plants stand about 3 feet above the ground. The sugar cane when planted for seed is frequently injured by a small worm which eats all the way through the stalk, and if the next stalk lies against the first the worm goes on through both. In order to prevent this the cane is cut into short pieces of about six joints and planted so that the end of one piece is not on the same line with that of another. The cane is planted in rows about 4 feet apart, and it requires about 2,000 average- sized stalks to plant an acre. Before and shortly after the cane makes its appearance the ground is kept plowed in order that the earth may be loose about the young plants. After this all that is necessary is to keep the wreeds from crowding out the young cane. The plant will soon protect itself from the weeds and grass, and then no more cultivation is necessary. Within a radius of 5 miles of Waycross there are about 450 acres of sugar cane available for manufacture. As a rule the farmers use about one-sixth of an acre to plant an acre — that is, 16$ per cent of their cane is used for seed. In 1902 the farmers used about 30 per cent of the crop for seed, as the cane was damaged by frost and was therefore small. 24060— No. 75—03 3 34 The following analyses show the composition of the cane juices from the various plantations about Waycross: TABLE XVI. — Composition of cane juices sampled at fnrtnric* near Win/cross, Ga. Proprietor. Date of observa- tion. Composition of juice. Proprietor. Date of observa- tion. Composition of juice. Su- crose. Reduc ing «ugars. Pu- rity. Su- crose. Reduc ing sugars. Pa- rity. E.M.Eunice \V.J. Booth 1902. Nov. 17 . . do ... Per ct. 16.79 13.66 10.68 12.01 8.96 15.29 10.49 10.79 9.60 15.08 Per d. 0.30 1.29 2.09 1.48 3.81 1.06 3.07 2.11 2.37 .66 86.10 80.83 64.33 L.E. Miller DO W.N.Keton .... P. L. Hatcher... Do 1902. Dec. 8 ....do... Dec. 10 Dec. 11 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Per ct. 16.55 13.64 14. 57 10.20 11.32 15.57 Per ct. 0.43 1.35 .99 2. 55 2.25 .50 81.67 83.25 70.34 70.34 L.Anthony T J Colson (for. -Ji Nov. 25 do Do 63.10 89.95 73.36 67.02 67.13 88.18 J.L.Stephens S F Miller Nov. 26 do W. H. Boat- wight J.J.Wilkinson .. N.G.Lang W. S. Chancey . . . Nov. 28 ....do... Dec. 4 Average 12.83 1.64 75.82 CANE GROWING IN THE VICINITY OF QUITMAX, GA. By J. M. STARR, Special Agent. Around Quitman cane seems to be grown only as an incidental crop. Most farm- ers who run from 3 to 10 plows plant from 4 to 8 acres of cane. The small farmer with one horse or mule plants from three-fourths acre to 1 J acres. There is a distinct tendency to increase the acreage planted around Quitman, and many farmers have expressed the intention of planting at least 40 per cent more in 1903 if the seed cane comes through the winter well. The farmer who grows cane on the largest scale is Mr. MeRae, who lives about 12 miles from the town. It is estimated that the amount of sirup handled at Quitman for jobbing purposes will be approximately 4,500 barrels. The average price which the farmer receives is 25 cents per gallon. Three kinds of cane are grown in this locality, viz, purple cane (two varieties, big short-joint cane, and small long-joint cane), ribbon cane (two varieties, red striped and green striped), and green cane. The purple cane is most extensively grown for sirup making, and the ribbon cane is the next in importance. The small red cane grows as tall as the ribbon variety, but does not stand so thick and is generally thought to be sweeter. The green cane is not much grown for sirup making. It is very soft and tender, and the seed cane does not keep so well through the winter a- the other varieties. Almost all farmers who plant several acres of cane use cotton seed and commercial fertilizers containing nitrogen. Many of the cane growers use fertilizers that contain too much ammonia, which results in red, strong sirup. In the freshly cleared laud, where there is considerable decayed organic matter in the soil, acid phosphate is the principal fertilizer used. The small farmers who plant only about an acre or two of cane use cow-pen manure and cotton-seed meal. About 30 bushels of cotton seed are used per acre and from 400 to 800 pounds of commercial fertili/rr. When cotton seed is applied it is used as bedding for cattle before planting time. A deep furrow is plowed, in which the fertilizer is placed. The seed cane is cut into pieces of three joints each and dropped into the row about 3 inches apart and covered with a lister. After the cane comes up some farmers put in an additional amount <>f fertilizer at the sides of the row, and when the cane is laid by another application is sometimes made in the middle of the row. When the fertili/or is put in the row before plant- ing it is usually mixed with the soil by running a plow thnmirh it before the seed 35 cane is planted. The cultivation is «.f a Dimple character, since as soon as the cane gets a start it shades the ground and prevents the growth <>i weeds and gra--<--. The weight <»f the runr per acre mi the farm of Mr. Mdntosli, <) miles \\n\-\\\ «,f Quitman, was determined on November L'»i. The cane from 1 acre weighed ill, UI.") pounds, equivalent t«» :!0.»> short tons. The numher of canes in 1 load were counted in order to determine the average weight of each cane. The load contained !HK» canes ami wei-hed L',111' pounds, which will make the a\erai_re cane wrigh L'.L' pounds. In computing for 1 acre, this .irives as the total numher of canes 27,825 4-. This weight of cane makes from 1(1 to L'O barrels of sirup, averairing :'..". gallons each. It ivt|iiiivs a mean of 7 A ^aliens of juice to make 1 gallon of sirup. The average product per acre in the vicinity of ljuitman may he safely placed at 14 hum-Is of :'>:', gallons each per acre, \\ Inch amounts to 4fiL' gallons. One of the principal items of expense in the sirup industry is the seed cane, -inc.- very little dependence can he placed in the stubble crop. One acre of cane \\ill plant from 4 to 10 acres, according to the amount grown, hut much depends on how the seed keeps through the winter. Freight rates from (Juitman are very high also, If the grower can find out how to make sirup that will not ferment lie can hold. his product until there is a good price for it. The dealers will then advertise and handle the goods twelve months in the year instead. of three, and there will be a great increase in price and acreage. This would render the adulteration of sirup with glucose unprofitable. The following analytical data were obtained on the samples collected at Quitman and in the vicinity: TAHI.K XVII. — f cane juices *<(nl«l ui.Mr>. Pu- rity. Su- crose. Reduc ing sugars. Pu- rity. E. J. Young A vera Bros 1902. Nov. 4 ...do.... Beret 8.85 10.58 11.89 10.24 11.42 11.87 10.99 10.60 11.33 11.20 11. 20 11.41 11.91 12. 37 12.18 11.74 1 I.C.I Perct. 2. :.i •2. :>2 2.02 1.75 1.89 1.91 2.07 2.47 1.94 1.35 2.05 1.94 1.89 1.89 1.85 1.55 1.71 05.07 72. V7 78. 22 76.98 76.63 77.58 73.75 74.68 77.07 77.24 76.19 77. C2 79.38 77.80 78.58 79.86 77.40 Malihett Bros... Avera Bros Do 1902. Nov. 20 Nov. 21 Nov. 24 Nov. IT. Nov. •> Dec. 1 Dec. 2 Dec. 11 Dec. 12 .. do Perct. 11.18 12.84 12.94 13.39 14.33 12. 75 10 12.41 12.48 13.04 16.71 11.50 11.83 13.85 12.15 Perct. 1.73 1.75 .80 1.04 .66 1.13 2.32 1.35 .88 1.19 ,54 1.57 1.62 .77 1.24 7i ;. :.7 79.10 73.94 84.74 85.80 84.44 71.43 80.59 86.02 82.01 79.86 76.33 81.87 77.38 Do Nov. 5 N..v. r, Nov. 7 Nov. 8 Nov. 10 Nov. 11 Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Nov. 14 .. .do .... Nov. 17 Nov. 18 Nov. 19 ...do.... Nov. •_'() Do. Do Do I 0 Do Do Do . Do Do \V. Ileiiifroe .... Do Do Do Do H. Turner .... Mr. Harrell W.Renifroe II. Turner Mr. Adams Do Dec. 15 Dec. 16 Dec. 18 H.T. 1H iH-c. 20 I.Mabbett Avera Bros Do Do • E.J. Young A vera Bros Average .. 11.95 1.60 77.97 < ANE GROWING FOR SIRUP MAKINd IN ALABAMA. By THOMAS BRAGI,. Sj» <•;<>/ .\ ,,t. The greater part of the observations in Alabama were made at the farm of Mr. George W. Black, near Geneva. The land on which the cane was grown is of the sandy type with a red clay subsoil, and has been in continual cultivation for about 36 sixty years. The previous crops were principally cotton and corn. Thirty-five acres of the purple variety of cane were planted by Mr. Black, 10 acres being reserved and bedded for seed and no care whatever taken of the stubble. The cane was planted March 1 and cultivated about the same as corn. It was fertilized with 50 bushels of cotton seed and 600 pounds of guano per acre. The cane was cut about December 1, piled in rows, and left in the field until grinding began, when it was stripped and hauled to the mill. The yield of cane and sirup per acre could not be obtained, as there were no scales available at the factory. However, 6 acres of the cane land were measured off, and it was found they produced 1,980 gallons of sirup, or an average of 330 gallons per acre. The farmers in this section greatly prefer the sandy lands for cane, as they find that the sirup from the cane grown on sandy lands is lighter in color than that produced on the dark bottom lands, and also that the juice contains a larger per cent of sugar. It is also claimed that it is difficult to obtain a good stand of cane on the bottom lands owing to the cold, damp nature of the soil. The purple variety of cane is better adapted to the conditions in this section than the other varieties. The farmers think that it is hardier and that while the ribbon and green varieties produce a lighter sirup than the purple cane, the yield of sirup is smaller. The following table gives the analyses of juices from farms in the vicinity of Geneva: TABLE XVIII. — Composition of cane juices sampled in the vicinity of Geneva, Ala. Proprietor. Post-office. Date of observa- tion. Composition of juice. Sucrose. «* Purity. Mr Tucker Lafavette . 1902. Nov. 10 Nov. 11 ....do... Nov. 12 Nov. 14 Nov. 18 Dec. 1 Dec. 23 Dec. 30 Dec. 31 1903. Jan. 1 Jan. 3 Jan. 6 Jan. 7 Jan. 9 Jan. 10 Per cent. 8.91 8.37 8.03 7.66 11.03 10.70 14.39 14.31 13.34 14.44 13.50 13. 82 14.19 13.58 15.27 14 77 Per cent, 3.17 3.53 3.87 3.93 2.38 2.76 1.09 .89 .80 .87 1.10 .91 .99 .99 .68 .74 62.30 58.54 f»7. 77 55.18 72.10 69.48 87.20 87.25 82.34 88.04 83.01 85.84 88.69 82.80 89.30 89.10 Do ....do Selman factory Do do do Mr Cooper Opelika .. Mr Beaslev Auburn Mr Culver do Mr Black Geneva . . . Do do Do do Do . . ....do Do do Do do Do ....do.. . Do do Do do Average 12. 26 1.73 77. 43 These data show that the greater part of the cane juice sampled in Alabama, espe- cially that from Geneva, is of a fine quality, having a comparatively low percentage of reducing sugar and a high purity. In this connection it must be remembered that the samples of juice were not representative of a single cane, but were taken from a large volume of expressed juice, which represented the regular mill juice. The smallest amount of juice from which a sample was taken was 600 gallons and the largest 1,600 gallons. 37 GROWING SUGAR CANE FOR SIRUP MAKING IN MISSISSIPPI. By E. E. HUDSON. >><•/«»/ Agent. The making of cane sirup is not carrir.l on extensively in this section of the coun- try because there is no good market for sirup here. There are only two or three miKs that make sirup to put on the market, ami these an- not very large ones, aver- aging about 800 gallons per day. The majority of the planters have their own mills and make sirup only for private use. The best quality of sirup made this season \va> from cane grown on sandy bottom land. This depends altogether, however, on the season. If it is a wet season the pine uplands produce the best quality of cane, but when the season is very dry the bottom lands give the best crop. The varieties of cane planted here are the white and the red or Cuban cane. The white cane, however, is not very hardy and therefore is not planted very exten- sively. Some of the planters, if the winter is not very severe, allow their stubble to remain in the ground, covering it over with earth to preserve it, but if there is a hard freeze during the winter they plow the stubble up and plant seed cane. Cotton seed and cotton-seed meal are used altogether for fertilizing the cane. Some- times stable manure is used, but not often, as it is thought to detract greatly from the sweetness of the cane. The following table shows the quality of the juice sampled at Mississippi factories, together with the character of the land on which the cane was grown : TABLE XIX. — Composition of cane juices sampled in the vicinity of Magnolia, Miss., and character of soil. Proprietor. Post-office. Date of observa- tion. Composition of juice. Character of soil. Su- crose. Reduc- ing sugar. Purity. Coney Sirup Works E J Hurst Magnolia . 1902. Oct. 29 Oct. 30 Oct. 31 Nov. 4 Nov. 5 Nov. 7 Nov. 8 Nov. 10 Nov. 11 Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 17 Nov. 18* Nov. 19 Nov. 21 Nov. 24 Nov. 25 Per ct. 12.94 12.18 10.86 9.62 9.44 12. 77 9.87 11.69 12.96 15.51 11.51 11.51 13.75 8.70 11.83 11.84 13.59 12.10 15.21 Perct. 1.44 1.27 1.94 3.66 2.23 1.72 2 1.99 1.62 1.19 2.19 1.60 1.31 1.64 2.25 2 1.48 1.97 .61 85.14 74.26 67.04 01. 27 75.52 80.32 82.25 75.42 80 Upland sandy loam (drought). Upland. Black sandy loam; made land. Upland. Pine upland. Light sandy loam. Pine upland; highly fer- tilized. Black sandy soil; stiff red clay subsoil. Sandy, bottom land. Sandy, bottom loam. Do. Pine upland. Bottom river land. rplund, sandy loam. Bottom land, sandy loam. Pine upland. Bottom land, sandy loam. Pine upland. Very high, sandy, pine upland. do D G Lambert . do W J Lenore do V. F Conev . .do .. VV.Brint do Fern wood Sirup Works Lampton Sirup Co J. A Johnston do do do N McGee do F M Lee Walkers Bridge . . Magnolia . . 76.23 72.40 89.29 57.24 75.35 72.65 81.86 77.56 87.91 C.W Lang J. A. Cutraer do Klondike Farm . do H. Dunnerway Fern wood J A Cutraer . . Magnolia . Bridges Sirup Works. . . A. Fitzgerald . . . Bridges Fernwood J.B.Slade Magnolia 38 TABLE XIX. — Composition of cane juices sampled in the vicinity of Magnolia, Miss., and character of soil — Continued. Proprietor. Post-office. Date of observa- tion. Composition of juice. Character of soil Su- crose. Reduc- ing sugar. Purity. H Prescott Magnolia . .do 1902. Nov. 2(> X«»v. 2i» Dec. 3 Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 8 Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Dec. 11 Ft r d. 11.28 13.96 1L64 11.65 15.39 15.49 17.62 17.93 14.07 Per ct. 1.29 .63 .SB .89 .84 .84 .31 .30 .74 64.46 85.64 75. 82 73.74 Pine upland, clay loam. Sandy hill land, clay subsoil. Bottom land, sandy loam. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Pine upland. R M Frith D F Vaughn do E J Hurst do Allen Bros do H.O. Allen do Allen Bros do Simmons Bros . . .do D G Lambert do 86.32 Average 12. 75 1.46 76.41 GROWING SUGAR CANE FOR SIRUP MAKING IN FLORIDA. By GEORGE E. WALKER, Special Agent. Much Japanese cane is being planted in the vicinity of Huntington, Fla., and it is highly praised, but none of it has been ground as yet. The interest in cane growing in this locality is increasing, and a much larger acreage would be planted in cane were it not for the difficulty of fencing out the wild hogs. In consequence of dry weather in the early spring a good stand of cane was not obtained on the high pine land, and this fact, combined with the depredations of hogs running at large, left only enough cane for the seed requirements on our own farm, and consequently we were dependent on the outside supply to meet the demands of the factory. The demand, however, for seed cane (for Georgia principally) was so great that it paid better to sell seed cane than to make it into sirup. For this reason many carloads of cane were shipped from Huntington which it had been expected would go to the local factory, and thus the successful operation of the mill was ren- dered impossible. The following table shows the composition of the juice extracted from cane grown at Huntington and at Kissimmee: TABLE XX. — Composition of cane juices sampled in Florida. Proprietor. Post-office. Date of observa- tion. Composition of juice. Sucrose. Reducing sugar. Purity. I Braddock Huntington 1902. Dec. 30 Dec. 31 Per nut. 11.94 13.10 P/ <>f timiliitintl '!