INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1918-19 41 



increase in the proportion of " solids not sugar," so that a 

 falling off in the quality of the juice is to be expected. 

 That this is so is shown by the change in the co-efficient of 

 purity, but this is not so great as might be expected, and 

 in fact, owing to the increased concentration of the juice 

 the variations in the percentage of crystallizable sugar are 

 practically nil. Consequently the process of windrowing 

 does not lead to any appreciable decrease in the amount oF 

 sugar obtainable from equal weights of juice. 



It does not follow from the above, however, that there 

 is no loss of sucrose and sugar so far as the crop is con- 

 cerned, and this point can only be determined by careful 

 weighments of the samples drawn and of the juice ex- 

 pressed. Such measurements were taken at each stage and 

 the weights of sucrose, glucose, etc., calculated to the 

 basis of 1,000 lb. cane when windrowed. The results 

 obtained were remarkablv concordant. 



The amount of sucrose present in the cane windrowed 

 on December 18th increased rapidly up to January 1st, and 

 then remained practically constant until the first week in 

 February after which there is a rapid decrease. The cane 

 windrowed on January 10th showed a similar increase at 

 first and again deterioration set in after the first week of 

 February, whereas the cane windrowed on February 3rd 

 showed only a continuous decrease. Similar fluctuations 

 occurred with the weight of cane, weight of juice expressed, 

 and are particularly well brought out in the case of crystal- 

 lizable sugar. The weight of glucose, on the other hand, 

 tends to increase uniformly. 



All these comparisons show that cane can be stored by 

 windrowing for some time, but that after a certain time 

 has elapsed deterioration sets in. The date at which this 

 first occurs is the same whether the cane be windrowed late 

 or early in the season, and consequently w T ould appear to be 

 determined by factors which are either of a biological nature 

 connected with the cane or to a seasonal one which affects 

 all canes in a similar degree. It ma}^, however, be pointed 

 out that canes windrowed in December, 1917, showed no 

 .sign of deterioration four months afterwards, which 



