67 



thus boiled to grain produced exceedingly tine grain, diflicult to purge 

 aud invariably dark in color, no better than a number of early strikes 

 boiled to string. These tine, gum my, dark sugars, dissolved in clarified 

 juices, were used to start the grain ; an amount equal in weight to one- 

 fifth that of each strike produced a fine sugar of medium size grain, re- 

 markable for its uniformity of grain, color, and purity. All sugars were 

 taken to the mixer and passed through the contrifugals as speedily as 

 possible to remove them from contact with the black molasses. 



The entire water supply was obtained from a bed of gypsum 05 feet 

 from the surface, and was positively unfit for use in either the boilers 

 or the diffusion battery. The injurious effects of this water were ob- 

 served early, Dr. Wiley being the first to suspect the true cause. By 

 the use of this water for diffusion there is a loss (estimated) of "22% 

 pounds of sugar from each ton of cane worked, or 35 per cent. It ruined 

 the molasses, aud to this gypsum is attributed, directly or indirectly, 

 nearly two-thirds of the annoying and expensive delays and losses iu- 

 cident to the present season's work. 



Canes of unusual richness were worked, the battery secured a good 

 extraction, the entire evaporation occurred in vacuum with but slight 

 inversion of sugar ; but large .yields of sugar did not follow. The analy- 

 ses of molasses from the sugars explain much, many of them showing 

 the relative sugars four and even four and one-half to one, yet so en- 

 gulfed with a mass of gums black and bitter as to render impracticable 

 any attempt to secure second sugars. In my opinion, the estimated loss 

 of sugar due to the use of this water should be doubled. I would re- 

 spectfully ask critically inclined persons to keep these facts in mind 

 when reviewing the accompanying tables, which contain, notwithstand- 

 ing, some interesting and reliable information. 



The farmer looks upon this industry as one created for his especial 

 benefit, and when considered from his stand-point as judged by its agri- 

 culture, can see only magnificent successes for all sugar work. An aver- 

 age crop of cane as grown in this section at $2 per ton equals in value 

 the land upon which it is grown. No crops are grown with more cer- 

 tainty; others, corn especially, in most localities of this section are not 

 sure every season. One farmer growing 30 acres reports an average 

 yield of 13 J tons per acre. Some small pieces produced more, the aver- 

 age being 10J tons per acre. Ten thousand acres of cane at $2 per ton 

 could easily be contracted for delivery next season. The farmers are 

 not slow to see the advantages offered in growing cane at these prices. 



The soil of this section can be called neither clay nor sand, being light, 

 loose, not sticky, light in color, contains little organic matter and pro- 

 duces only a medium-sized stalk of corn or cane. 



I attribute the phenomenal richness of canes grown here the past sea- 

 son to warm soil, high elevation 1,500 feet above sea level pure, dry 

 atmosphere, proper selection of seed, good culture, and long period of 

 hot, dry weather; the latter acting to some extent as an unfavorable 



