75 



and did not at that date show any effects of the thaw following the 

 freeze. This was due, probably, to the fact that the cane was very dry. 



The elevation of Con way Springs is about 1,500 feet above the sea- 

 level. The soil upon which the sorghum was planted is an upland sandy 

 loam. About one-fourth of the crop was upon sod land and the rest on 

 oid plowed land. 



The subsoil is derived from the decomposition of friable red shale, 

 which contains a fairly large percentage of phosphoric acid with but 

 little potash. 



The first planting was Early Amber seed, supposed to be pure, and 

 the later planting of Orange, Sterling Orange, and on May 10 about 10 

 acres of Link's Hybrid. 



The seed was put in either with a planter or strewn on top and har- 

 rowed. The average depth of planting was 2 inches. It was found 

 necessary early in May to replant some of the Amber which had been 

 covered to a depth of 4 inches. Owing to the late date at which the 

 building was begun and the machinery ordered, the factory was not 

 ready for work until September 1. The first cane was cut August 24, 

 and regular work begun September 6. 



The seed planted for pure hand picked Early Amber proved to have 

 been a mixture of Amber and Sterling Orange. In consequence, when 

 the Amber was ready to be cut and worked, the Orange mixed with it 

 was still green, showing a low content of sucrose. After a few days' 

 work it was decided to have the farmers pick out the best of the Early 

 Amber in the field and condemn the remainder. As fully one half of 

 the crop of the supposed Early Amber proved to be this Sterling 

 Orange, the first work of the season was of but little value, and no at- 

 tempt was made to obtain sugar, all of the cane being worked for 

 molasses. 



September 4 the first Early Orange cane was cut. At that time, al- 

 though the seed was hard and ripe, the content of sugar in the cane 

 was not nearly as high as the same variety of cane showed later in the 

 season. 



The Sterling Orange was at its best about October 1, and the Link's 

 Hybrid at the time it was worked, November 1. 



The results of analyses of whole canes are recorded in Table No. 1. 

 The canes were topped and is tripped, and the juice expressed by means 

 of a small hand mill. The average amount of sucrose in the juice was 

 about 2.00 per cent, higher than the average of any crop heretofore 

 worked. The highest percentage was found in sample No. 1(52, taken 

 from a load of Sterling Orange. The lowest percentage of sucrose was 

 noted in two samples of mixed Amber and unripe Orange, on September 

 4 and September 10. The best samples taken during the working 

 season were Nos. 27 Amber. 352 Orange, and 374 Link's Hybrid. '1 In- 

 Amber c.ine after being cut, if left lying for any lengt!: of time, deteri- 

 orated rapidly, as shown by the anahsis of No. 2(5. 



