68 



was evaporated in an open pan until one-half of its water was removed; 

 it was then drawn into the vacuum, still further concentrated, Drained 

 in the same pan, and struck into sugar wagons in the hot room. The 

 centrifugal machine separated the crude molasses from the raw sugar, 

 leaving it in a condition suitable for refiners 7 uses. Storage tanks, set- 

 tling tanks, filter presses, defecators, clarifiers, and chemicals of any 

 kind were not used. The vacuum pan and centrifugal machine do not 

 difler from well-known forms. 



THE CROP. 



Eighty acres of cane were planted for the use of the mill, and of this 

 7 acres were grown by neighboring farmers and the balance by the 

 company. Varieties planted were Amber, White African, Kansas 

 Orange, and Late Orange, from which 910 pounds sugar and 80 gallons 

 of molasses per acre were made. In this account is included the un- 

 ripe eane used in breaking iu the house and all damaged cane. The 

 tonnage far exceeded our greatest expectations. This was occasioned 

 by carefully planting the hills closer and giving it good attention, to- 

 gether with favorable rains. The cost of raising the eane was $11.62 

 per acre. This includes the hauling out of fertilizers and placing them 

 upon the laud, which consisted of 150 pounds muriate of potash per 

 aero, and rotten chips from previous seasons, together with a little 

 stable manure in spots. The cost of potash and chips is not included 

 in the above. The cost of cutting the cane and bringing it to the fac- 

 tory was 45 cents per ton. We paid $3 per day for the use of teams 

 and farm hands, and laborers were paid $1.25 per day. 



The average yield was 16J tons per acre. All the farmers 7 cane was 

 worked and -7.;>S acres of that raised by the company. Over -17 acres 

 were loft in the fields. One tract (S.43 acres) averaged -5 tons of cano 

 per acre, from which 1,400 pounds of raw sugar and 120 gallons of mo- 

 lasses per acre were extracted. 



Tart of the field was used in breaking in the house. 



The yields of the farmers' crops varied widely, the maximum being 

 1,970 pounds of raw sugar and li*i> gallons of molasses per acre. This 

 was made from 17 tons and 075 pounds of field cane. The term " field 

 eane" means neither stripped nor topped. The minimum was 540 

 pounds of sugar and CO gallons of molasses. All the seed used by the 

 farmers was the same. The variations in yield were caused by the dif- 

 ference in cultivation. Other yields were as follows per acre : 



The company grew this cane on shares, giving the farmers one-halt' 

 the products, viz, sugar, molasses, and seed. The basis of settlement 



