INDIANA CANE GROWERS. 467 



Some stalks are laid down whole, and long ones they cut in two. They make a per- 

 fect jungle, if planted closer. A great many put their cane in siloes, and plant in 

 the spring; but it don't do so well. They have planted crops and stubble crops; 

 the stubble crop is stronger than the planted crop. They have to replant once in 

 three years. Sugar cane does not seem to impoverish the soil very rapidly. In the 

 West India Islands land has been in cultivation for fifty years, and is rich yet. 

 The land is bottom. The soils of Ohio, Penn.sylvania, Indiana and Illinois have 

 washed down there, and they are raising sugar on it. Governor Warmouth plows 

 by steam, both breaking and cultivating, which is very economical. In February 

 he will take his plow and throw the dirt away from the roots to the center, there 

 being ridges against the roots, leaving the row to the light and heat ; then when it 

 gets started he throws it back on the roots. He brings his cane to the mill on the 

 tramway. One mule will bring in ten loaded cars at a time. He gains much by 

 the use of the tramway. Another improvement which he has introduced is the 

 crushing of the cane. Before it goes to tiie mill it passes through a shredder. The 

 mill runs at a high rate of speed. You would think a pulp would not pass through 

 the mill, but stick on the turn-plate; but it gave no trouble whatever. The best 

 result is the extraction of 70 per cent of the juice from these mills. I think the 

 shredder would be of advantage to you here ; you would get 10 to 15 per cent, 

 more juice with it than without it. It saves labor in feeding. They use settling 

 tanks similar to those used for tsorghum. After defecation it is allowed to settle, 

 and the juice is run through bone black, and then goes into the double effect 

 vacuum, and is run again through bone black and turns back into the vacuum pan 

 and directly into the centrifugal. When they use bone black they do not use sul- 

 phur, but in the absence of bone black they use it. 



A Member. We find it does not do to grind too closely. 



Prnf. Wil^y. There is little basis for that. I have tried a number of experi- 

 ments, and in Louisiana on Southern cane, as well as sorghum. I have had sor- 

 ghum ground and 56 per cent, of the juice extracted, and then run the bagasse 

 through again and realized 15 per cent. The first was a little purer than the 

 second, but not enough to make much difference. If I filter the second juice and 

 get out the mechanical impurities, it is as good as the first, 



W. F. Lietzman. Do the properties contained in bone black have any effect on 

 the cane juice? 



Prof. Wiley. No, I think not, as far as a color is concerned. The lime and 

 glucose make it dark, but filtering it through bone black makes it light. 



Dr. A. Furnas. Can wo reburn animal charcoal profitably without a retort? 



Prof. Wiley. I think not, sir. 



W. F. Lietzman. Is bone black good after reburning ? 



Prof, Wiley. It is better. It can be burned a great many times. 



A Member. How long would it have to burn ? 



Prof. Wiley. About thirty hours. When we first u'je bone black it is not good. 

 They have to refilter it. The quicker we put the syrup through, the better, if we 

 want good color, and good color is mostly required. Hence, boiling in a thin stra- 

 tum and rapidly, is the ne plus ultra of a first-class syrup, and my observations prove 

 it to be 80. 



