38 



and will then give full instructions in their secret processes for one cent 

 per gallon on each gallon of syrup made by them during the season. The 

 work of your department will put a stop to this swindling business, and I 

 hope the legislature will appropriate such amounts as may be requisite to 

 fully develop the cane resources, and place Wisconsin in a position to raige 

 her own sugar and syrup, for which she has paid over $8,000,000 per annum. 

 My factory has an easy capacity of 400 gallons syrup in twenty-four hours. 

 I use steam for defecating and evaporating, and the Plantation Mill made by 

 the Madison Manufacturing Company, and no other state can furnish a better 

 one. I would be glad to have you visit my factory in grinding season if 

 possible. Hoping for your complete success in developing the sugar 



resources of Wisconsin, 



I am yours truly, . 



A. J. DECKER 



To Prof. W. A. Henry, Agr. Dep't, University Wis. 



[From J. T. Huntington, Esq., Delton, Wis.] 



Prof. W.A.Henry: 



Dear Sir — In reply to your request for something from me on the cane 

 business, I submit the following: 



The last two seasons have undoubtedly been unfavorable for the best re- 

 sults from Amber cane — the season of '81 particularly as to yitld in this vi- 

 cinity. Notwithstanding that the season was very wet the yield of juice was 

 generally small, but mostly of fine (juality, my experience being that the juice 

 of tbis year worked satisfactorily — much easier than that of last. The syrup 

 from my works this year was, for a custom mill where all sorts of cane is 

 handled, very uniform in quality and color. We have, in this vicinity, all 

 kinds of soil, and so far as I am able as yet to judge, the very best results are 

 obtained from cane groivn on soil somewhat sandy, and if possible I would 

 wish it be on a clover sod. The finest flavored syr, p and ((uickest to granu- 

 late of any made at my place are those from cane grown on a clover sod. 

 Growers of cane, as a general thing, I think, do not do as they should to ob- 

 tain the best results. Cane is too apt to be left to be the last thing planted 

 and cultivated, und I have often had men tell me that they had only culti- 

 vated it once, and some not at all. Such cane cannot be satisfactory. 



In my opinion, cane should be planted just as early as the climate will 

 admit, covering just as light as possible, and cultivating as soon as the rows 

 can be seen; and continue the cultivation until it is waist high, and then 

 keeping the weeds out in August with a hoe. 



It should be cut when a majority of the seed is ripe enough to grow, and 

 if it cannot be worked at once, should be so placed that it can have plenty of 

 air, and be covered from the rays of the sun or storms ; so placed, it will 

 keep well for some time. I have worked some that had been cut four weeks, 



