INDIANA CANE GROWERS. 483 



The object of these premiums was to give an opportunity for syrup made with 

 or without chemicals to have a fair and impartial test as to their respective merits. 



The selection of the committee to make these awards was a matter of discussion, 

 without arriving at any definite conclusion. The matter was finally left with the 

 Executive Committee for arrangement. 



E. W. Deming. In some parts of Missouri syrups have been made without the 

 use of chemicals. The nature of the soil and close proximity to limestone forma- 

 tion does not require a particle of lime. In some parts of Iowa it is the same. 



Prof. Wiley. If you are going to offer those premiums, if you desire, I will 

 give chemical analysis of those samples on exhibition, to ascertain the caustic 

 acidity and density, and quantity of sugar and albumen. I will make this analy- 

 sis free of charge, and have the analysis furnished to the committee as to the char- 

 acter of the samples. In that way there is no difficulty about coming to the test, 

 as you have the analysis before you. When you determine on the soil and defeca- 

 ting, you can not tell by the color. There are many kinds of syrup that will fer- 

 ment. This will be determined after the analysis — the density with the boiling 

 and percentage of albumen which prevent putrefaction. Where syrup has been 

 well defecated and thoroughly boiled, it never will spoil. I have seen barrels lie 

 out for two years in the open air, with just enough covering to keep the rain off, 

 defecated with lime only, and just as sweet as the day when first exposed. It will 

 not be five years until molasses will be sold exclusively on the chemical analysis. 

 Molasses, butter and sugar will all be sold by analysis as in England, where they 

 have a public analyst whose duty it is to report on this subject. People will pay 

 better prices for an article that is pure than one that is spurious. 



E. W. Deming. It occurs to me that possibly the sugar growers of the Iowa 

 State Association, Wisconsin and Indiana, all might meet at Chicago at one time ; 

 it would be more interesting, and much information might be gained. 



Dr. Furnas. We tried this in a horticultural way, but it did not work satis- 

 factorily. 



J. Harvey. If we want to kill off the interest of the Indiana cane growers, this 

 idea is just the way to do it. 



Query No. 1 : "Has any one used the offal of the pan for making vinegar?" 



W. L. Anderson. I made some, but could get only seven cents. I can make 

 meat with the skimming better than I can vinegar. 



Mr. McQuisten. Can any one tell what density to make vinegar by the saccha- 

 rometer ? 



W. F. Lietzman. I have made, in a small way, by throwing the skimmings up 

 into a vessel. I find it is necessary to largely dilute it with water before going to 

 vinegar. My opinion is that the juice as expressed from the stalk, after being 

 properly defecated, is just about the right density — eight or nine by the saccha- 

 rometer. 



John Harvey. We take the last white scum, and to one gallon of that add two 

 gallons of fresh rain-water, and let it stand two weeks in the sun. It gives good 

 eatisf action 



Convention adjourned sin^ die. 



