998 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
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Of the total cane worked, 162 tons were consumed in experiments with our cut- 
ters and cleaning machinery before the cane was ripe enough for use for either 
sirup or sugar. No product whatever, not even seed, was saved from this, nor 
from 10 tons additional brought in since the factory closed down. About 300 tons 
of mostly down and inferior cane was worked in the early part of the season on 
the crushers, and without diffusion. The only product from this was molasses, and 
of that but a small quantity. About 375 tons were also worked for molasses only 
on the diffusion battery. This, with the exception of 50 tons at the close of the 
season, and which came in too irregularly to be worked for sugar, was worked be- 
fore the sugar season began, and comprised such down patches and poorer quality 
of cane as could be path oral mainly on the lands belonging to the company. It 
was an open question whether very poor cane could be worked successfully, even 
for sirups, on a diffusion battery. Nothing in this direction had hitherto been 
attempted. The total yield of molasses from this source, and from which no 
sugar has been taken, is 4,157 gallons, From this are sold 3,157 gallons, for $726.71 
net. The remaining 1,000 gallons are still on hand, and are worth 29 cents per 
gallon. 
: Tons. 
Deducting from total tonnage, less seed . 0.2.2... 0 cee eee eeees ite lente ... 8,840 
Amount not worked for sugar ..........-. eH BRO. O LLU E NCI OmIC ashe a epee 
We have total cane and Jeaves for sugar.................... «lec foie VetojePeuxecohe aces 
The total number of diffusion cells worked for sugar is 2,648. The weight of a 
cell of chips is 1,975 pounds. With this as a basis there was worked by diffusion 
for sugar 2,610 tons of clean cane as it entered the cells, Deducting this from 2,945 
tons of cane, with leaves and blades, and we have 3833 tons of leaves and blades, 
The latter are tous a dead loss. Asmali portion has been hauled away by farmers 
for feed, but the bulk of this large tonnage is now fit only formanure. This waste 
was considerably increased by the failure of our separating machines, especially 
in the early part of the season, to properly discharge their duties. This whole sub- 
ject was new; machines had to be devised, and their adjustment, which is not yet | 
perfect, caused considerable loss of cane. The weight of blades and leaves will not 
be far from 10 per cent. of field cane. For either feed or fuel, especially where the 
latter is much of an object, the blades can be utilized so as to at least cover their 
own cost. At present we figure the loss from this source to seed account. 
SEED. 
There have been delivered of seed tops 437 tons. As nearly as we can estimate, 
there are yet to be delivered 50 tons, making in all 467 tons. From the best cal- 
culations we can make, and judging from our experience in former years, seed 
yields about 70 per cent.of the weight of-heads, as bought in over the scales, in 
cleaned seed. Putting it at 60 per cent., and with 56 pounds to the bushel, we shall 
have 10,000 bushels of cleaned seed. A portion of this,.estimated at 1,000 bushels, 
has, at considerable additional expense, been picked over by hand, head by head, 
tied into small bundles, and hung up in the dry. This has been done to provide 
ourselves with pure seed of the different varieties for planting,and to supply a 
probabie want in the same direction from others. For this hand-picked seed we 
expect to get not Jess than $2 per bushel. The cost of handling the seed has not 
been kept separate from the cost of running the factory. The total cost of curing, 
stacking, and hand-picking will not be far from $700, fully $200 of which has been 
expended in securing pure and perfectly cured seed for ourselves and others willing 
to pay the extra price. To thrash and prepare the seed for market the seed will 
cost about 6 cents per bushel additional. I estimate that we shall get for our seed 
crop $7,000 net. There will be left of seed tops, after thrashing, fully 100 tons. 
These are good for feed or fuel. 
SIRUPS. 
The bulk of our sirups are stored in the large cistern or cellar under the ware- 
house. The amount on hand we estimate at 50,000 gallons. This includes the 
whole crop, except the 8,157 gallons sold in early part of season. Of this we have 
sold, to be delivered within thirty days, and one car-load of which has already gone, 
950 barrels, or about 12,500 gallons, at a price that will net us here 20 cents. This 
sale includes the bulk of our poorest sirups. I think we can safely estimate our 
sirup product, exclusive of packages, at $10.000. Considering the condition of our 
factory for work in cold weather, and the limited capacity of our centrifugal ma- 
chinery, J recommend their sale, without boiling for seconds. 
* * * % * % * 
W. L. PARKINSON. 
