66 NORTHERN SUGAR INDUSTRY, 



Copy of record of analyses of sorghum made at Hutchinson, Eans., 4^c. — Contiuned. 



HONDURAS. 



Date. 



Specific 

 gravity. 



Deg. 

 Biix. 



Per cent, 

 glucose. 



Per cent, 

 sucrose. 



Per cent, 

 other 

 sugars. 



State of seed. 



Sept. 1 



Oct. 2 



1. 0677 

 1. 0560 



16.4 

 14.0 



3.6 

 3.2 



10.8 

 9.5 



2.0 

 1.3 





STERLING, KANS. 



This i'aatOYj was under the supervision of Professor Scovell, and was 

 operated exactlj^ as the factory at Champaign, 111. The soil and climate 

 are the same as at Hutchinson. 



The amount of sugar made was 136,000 pounds ; of molasses, 35,000 

 gallons. 



Unfortunately I cannot get any exact data in respect of the yield of 

 cane per acre and of sugar per ton in Kansas, because much of the 

 cane was worked without weighing. 



The most reliable estimates place the yield of Amber cane at 9.5 tons 

 and that of Orange at 12 tons per acre. 



I am disposed, to believe, however, from experience, that estimated 

 yields are generally too high. The following communication from the 

 special agent of this Department for Kansas (who also furnished the 

 statistical tables for the State) will be found of interest: 



AVERAGE YIELD OF CANE. 



It is difficult to ascertain the exact average yield because a large number of produ- 

 cers do not weigh their product The average of crops weighed are for topped cane 

 with blades on, Amber cane, per acre, 9.50 tons ; Orange cane, 12 tons. 



The estimates of growers who have not weighed their cane are usually 15 to 25 per 

 cent, above these figures. 



A remarkable case illustrating the value of irrigation was that of J. E. Crane of 

 Kinsley, who produced 42 acres of Amber cane. The entire 42 acres received exactly 

 the same treatment except that 30 acres were irrigated with water drawn in a canal 

 from the Arkansas River, while the remaining 12 acres were not irrigated. The cane 

 was cut, topi)ed, and sold to Hon. John Benny worth, and by him made into sirup. The 

 yield was as follows: not irrigated, 12 acres, 10 tons per acre, 120 tons; irrigated,' 30 

 acres, 17 tons per acre, 510 tons. 



Mr. Crane states that the expense of irrigating was: 



Water rent per acre, $1 ; labor of applying water per acre, 50 cents. Total per acre, 

 ^1.50. Ouly one application was made. This irrigated cane is reported to have 

 yielded an unusually rich juice. 



If further investigation and furture cultivation shall confirm the experience of Mr. 

 Crane, a most important development awaits such portion of the western third of 

 Kansas as can be cheaply irrigated, and the sugar industry may be largely developed 

 in a section not well adapted to the production of standard cereals. 

 Respectfully, 



E. B. COWGILL, 

 Agent for Collection of Information of the Sorghum Industry of Kansas. 

 Hon. Geo. B. Loring, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



