44 ie \ ANNUAL ReEporrT. 
SUGAR AND SYRUP. 
It was decided to take up the discussion of this subject. A num- i 
ber of questions were submitted by J. S. Kramer, Esq., of La Cres- “5 
cent, and were answered by Messrs. Miller and Kenney and others. 
Best Variety. sivas 
The Secretary. What kind of seed gives the most profit in sugar _ 
and syrup? cae 
Mr. Miller.» The Minnesota Early Amber Sugar Cane is the 
best I ever tried. Its granulating property is much superior. 
Other kinds have not granulated with me. It ripens as surely as a 
crop of corn: I think I can feel more sure of a crop of this than of 
a crop of corn. 
Mr. Kenney. My Amber Cane was two and a half inches high 
on the 9th of June, when the frost came; it cut every hill nearly to 
the ground. I let it alone and most every hill came up again. It 
made a good crop which was cut September 16. The last of it was 
worked October 9th. Lying so long was injurious, but four acres 
of Cane produced four hundred and twenty-eight gallons of syrup. 
Mr. Miller. As to the earliness of the Early Amber, aman in 
Sheldon, Douglas county, planted the seed June 2nd, and the cane 
was ripe before frost. 
Mr. Kenney. I began working the cane last year, August 28th, 
and took a sample of sugar, September 3d. It was a choice article. 
Planting.— Harvesting. 
The Secretary. What is the cheapest and best way to plant? 
Mr. Miller. It you are planting but little, plant with a hoe in 
moist soil, about one inch deep. But for four or more acres get a 
planter. I used a Corn Planter, but it must be nicely adjusted. A 
planter plants as fast as four men and better because it puts the 
seed in moist soil. If the soil is clayey it must not be packed. 
Mr. Kenney. It does not hurt the cane to freeze after one day’s 
wilting, because then the cells do not burst by freezing. I prefer 
to let it lie on the ground till the leaves are cured; then the cane 
can be stored. Lay it on the ground in such a way that the tops 
and leaves will overlie and protect the stalks from the sun. It is 
important to cure the cane to get rid of the acid, especially in 
making sugar. I have always stripped the leaves from the cane for 
fodder, and believe the leaves paid me for the labor. I have got 
about two tons of fodder per acre. 
