73 



effects; two days' time were lost in making this change, but an adequate supply 

 of water was obtained. 



I have endeavored to prepare a statement whereby the expenses incurred in opera- 

 tion could bo shown and the real profit or loss upon this season's work clearly shown. 

 Much labor belonging to plant account has been charged to operation. A complete 

 separation of the water-works and sugar company's interests in this respect is impos- 

 sible. Quite a quantity of fuel is on hand, some work yet remains to be done, and 

 further, very much of the product remains on hand unsold. Therefore, any state- 

 ment now olVered will in great part be assumed. However, with figures now at hand, 

 and estimating value of products from prices already obtained, I may confidently as- 

 sert that the product of this season's work considerably more than equals in value 

 the cost of its production. This is a very creditable showing indeed, especially when 

 we consider that from one cause or another the factory, taking the season as a whole, 

 averaged less than half its capacity without a corresponding reduction in the operat- 

 ing expenses. 



MR. DEMING'S DIRECTIONS FOR RAISING CANE. 



Much depends on a good stand from the first planting. No filling-in will be al- 

 lowed. If necessary to replant any portion, it must be replowed, cultivated, or listed 

 over. 



The field should first be cleared of all trash, such as stalks, weeds, and bunches of 

 grass. This is best done by raking and burning. Unless a lister is used a good seed 

 bed, such as for wheat, should be provided, and the seed deposited in fresh, moist 

 earth, deep enough to insure moisture, yet not beyond the sun's warmth. This varies 

 from one-half inch in depth on heavy clay soils to 3 or more inches on light, loose, 

 sandy soil. 



It is essential that the seed be planted at an even, uniform depth to insure its com- 

 ing up and ripening early, and the seed must under no circumstances be dropped or 

 covered by hand. For loose sandy soils a lister is a good planter. A good garden 

 drill may answer, and under some circumstances a forced wheat drill, having all the 

 holes except the two next the outside ones closed; but for a prepared seed bed a reg- 

 ular two-horso corn planter, with or without a drill attachment, gives the best re- 

 sults, planting at a uniform depth, and the wheel firming the soil about the seed, 

 causing it to germinate and grow more rapidly, with a better etart of the weeds. 



Unless the planter has broom-corn plates, which are the best, the holes in the corn 

 plates should be partially closed, with lead, babbitt, cork, or leather, until they ad- 

 mit of the passage of not more than four or five seeds at each movement of the plate. 

 A slight excess of seed should be planted, and the hoe used to properly clean it 

 out. This should be done invariably before the cane is 4 inches high. Good soils 

 will produce a stalk of cane for each 4 inches of row space. When the rows are 42 

 inches apart, two stalks should be allowed a space of 10 inches, three stalks 18 inches, 

 four stalks 30 inches, six stalks 42 inches, and never more than six stalks in. any one 

 buneh, no matter how spaced. 



Foul land is easiest tended when planted in checks, and all lauds so planted pro- 

 duced more sugar, but a smaller tonnage, than when planted in drills. The cultiva- 

 tion should bo merely upon the surface to avoid cutting and otherwise disturbing the 

 roots, checking their growth, and inducing a growth of suckers to sap the parent 

 stalks and retard their development. 



All that is required is to keep the grass and weeds in check, and all cultivation 

 should cease when the joints appear, as any interference with the roots at this time 

 results most seriously. One well-matured stalk will grow on the space occupied 

 by t\vo small ones, i.s as heavy as six small ones, and contains more juice sugar and 

 less impurities in proportion to its weight. The seed and leaves are less than 25 

 percent, of total weight of the large stalks, while with small canes the loss from 

 this source may reach fully 50 per cent. 



