V
VOL  XXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, JAN. 9,1886.
NO.2
(Cane (Growers.
INDIANA CARE GBOWBBS' CONVENTION.
There wss spiite a good attendance at the
opening of the 4th annual convention of
tbis society on Tuesday, the 29th, ult.,
in the rooms of the State Board of Agriculture. An unusually large and tine display of sirups was made, on a table in an
ml joining room. Several samples of the
sirup were much superior to those which
have heretofore been exhibited. One
sample at least, made by Mr. McQuiston,
of Preble Co., Ohio, was scarcely inferior
to the best Orleans.
Dr. Furnas, president of the association,
in his address at the opening of the afternoon session declared tbat it had been
demonstrated that we are now able to produce a sirup that is not only wholesome
and valued for home uie, but salable on
the market. He acknowledged that there
was still much difficulty in producing a
uniformly desirable article. He said that
so long as Louisiana only produces one-
tenth of the sugar consumed in the United
States, no unpleasant rivalry can possibly
occur between the North and the South in
reference to tbis interest. So far as sugar
making is concerned we do not weigh a
feather in the balance. While he admitted
that it was possible to make excellent
sugar from sorghum, yet he said it is not
profitable at preeent and perhaps will
never be. The great trouble in his experience, he said, was to'prevent the sirup from crystallizing; for a barrel of
malada is not desired by dealers, although
not much objected to by country customers.
He explained the new diffusion process,
so much talked of in some sections, by
which it is estimated that 40 per cent of
the juice is saved, and showed that the expense of putting up the necessary machinery-would effectually prevent the system from coming into general use.
At the afternoon session the officers for
the ensuing year were elected. The same
officers were chosen as last year with the exception of the secretary, A. S. Chapman,
of Madison, taking the place of W. P. Anderson .
A long letter from Dr. H. W. Wiley,
dated London, England., was read. He
does not believe that diffusion or carbona-
tation can be adapted to the use of medium
or small works. So there is no danger of
an immediate change in our present methods of work being made necessary. He
said that more reliance should be placed
upon heat than the use of chemicals for
complete clarification.
K. W. Deming read a paper on the Treatment of Cane Juices.
The evening session was spent in general discussions on matters of interest to
sorghum manufacturers.
At the ooening of the second day's 8
sion, Mr. Leitzman read a paper relating
to the history of sorghum culture in the
State, and recited the difficulties that had
been met and overcome. He thought we
were yet far from the solution of the sugar sj.iestion, but that it would in time be
Bolved, and to the satisfaction of all con
cerned. The cash value of the sorghum
sirup made in the year 1884, he stated was
estimated by the government statistician
at $9,000,000, while that of sugar cane sirup
made in tbis  country waa only $5,000,000,
showing   the great importance of  the industry.
What Variety of Cane to Plant, was dis-
cusaed by several members.
Mr. Porter, of Shelby Co., said he sowed
Honduras seed and got 80 gallons of sirup
from one half acre of the cane. His Early
Orange did not yield so well.
Mr. McQuiston, of Preble Co., O., preferred the Nonsuch variety to the Hond uras.
It yielde 1 more to the ton of cane. The
Honduras sirup was slightly superior in
quality. The Orange, Amber and Nonsuch were about equal in the sac-barometer teet
Mr. Mendenhall prefers the Orange, as
easier worked, makes more sirup for the
same amount of labor.
Mr. Fields had been in the business over
20 years. Made 12,000 gallons the past
year. Cultivated 40 acres on his own place,
Prefers the Honduras as giving the largest
yield of sirup. It gave 300 gallons to the
acre. The cane would have weighed about
2.' tons to the acre, he believed. The Amber comes next, in his estimation.
Mr. Anderson read the following resolution, which waa adopted:
Resolved, That this convention hereby
request that the department of agriculture
to do all in their power to induce Congress
to pass suitable appropriations for furthering the experiments in sorghum industry,
and that such experiments be conducted
in the interest of smaller manufacturers
as well as the larger.
Also that each membe's use his personal
influence in the same direction.
Tbe committee on awarding premiums
for best sirup reported, awarding: lst
premium to Dr. W. F. Leitzman, of Hendricks Co , and 2d to A. P. Cleland, Macy,
Miami Co.
Tbe fortunate gentlemen were then
called upon to explain their method of
manufacture. Their statements were
listened to with close interest by all preeent.
In answer to questions by the writer it
appears that the outlook for the business
is excellent, that sales are increasing, and
more farmers are intending to plant in the
future than ever before.
The following members reported making the amounts opposite their names at
tbe prices named:
Qmlloas.
tended to pursue in the future. Others
discussed the subject.
Mr. Densmore, of Red Wing, Minn.,
who was preeent with a model of the Porter Evaporator, on permission of the association, explained the operation and advantages of the machine. One or two
other evaporators   were also   represented.
Near the close of the session Gov. <!ray,
upon invitation, met the convention, and
offered a few encouraging words, soon
after which the convention adjourned to
meet again next December at call of the
executive committee.
Dominion ot Canada.   There  personal effects are not taxable  according  to my Informant. .1. 8,
Arcana.
Mr. Lrlizniaa  4.000
Fii t.'. 12,000
Kngle    2,700
Raab  1,800
Mendenhall  1,000
Mcuuiston 5,400
Cirland _ 2.400
Satterttawatte   8,175
Coffin 4,700
Le t 2,000
Jackson     600
Curler      700
Holling-Ronl. 860
Prol   Dobson 1,501.
Wanon  1,800
Ai.slers.on      5,000
Porter  1,200
Lalayelte Sugar Co  3,400
Dr  Furnas  2,400
In almost every case the
sold, and could  have sold as
Per gallon-
Cents.
40 to 50
40 to 45
40 to 50
50
46 to 50
4)
40
40
40 to 50
40 to tO
EO
40.0.0
40 to 60
50
40 to 50
40 to 60
40 to 46
from 34>_ acres
In _'_ days      10
report was all
much more.
Mr Deming, in a short paper, gave his
experience with sorghum manufactu.e,
detailing his failures and successes in an
interesting way. He gave also the results
of his investigations and the plan he in-
Far mors, Attention I
Editors Indiana Farmer:
It is time for the agriculturists to step
up and take their place among the repre
sentative people of the country. This
greatest industry has almost lost recognition in the affairs of the Nation, except to
pay tribute. The great fundamental principle that this government was founded
upon was equal representation in taxation.
Ou account of some commercial interests
in this country we have been recognized
as being the unfailing strength of the Nation.
The President in his message, says:
"The agricultural interests of the country
demand just recognition and liberal encouragement. It sustains with certainty
and unfailing strength our Nation's prosperity, by the products of its steady toil,
and bears its full share of the burden of
taxation, without complaint. Our agriculturists have but slight personal representation in the councils of the Nation,
and are generally content with the humbler duties of citizenship, and willing to
trUBt to the bounty of nature for reward
of their labor. Rut the magnitude and
value of this industry are appreciated
when the statement is made that of our
total annual exports more than three-
fourths are the products of agriculture,
and of our total population nearly one-
half are exclusively engaged in that occupation."
We see that the highest authority acknowledges our interest to be the most
important in the Nation, therefore it
should have the best ability to represent
it, in its proper ranks in our State, and
national affairs; but it is almost entirely
disrobed of its just honors, because it Is
composed of an unassuming class, by
the treachery and trickery of wire-working politicians. They begin by fair
promises; after securing their nomination,
they promise favor and buy votes to slide
into office. Afterwards in their official
course they must make back their losses.
Every well posted person is more or less
acquainted with such cases the whole
country over. The time is close at hand
when the work will commence again. Let
the agriculturist stop and think for a moment. Three-fourths of the voters of Indiana are engaged in that interest. What
is our representation? It is not worth
enumerating. The extravagance in our
public affairs are of such a magnitude that
taxes are a burden. I had the pleasure of
comparing taxables of the same value
with a Canadian farmer, recently, and
rather to my surprise I find I have to pay
about four times as much tax on the aame
value In real  estate as  the man   in  the
The Grasses.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Prof. J. Troop's paper on the grasses waa
read with interest. His work, however, la
just begun, if he intends to give all the
information regarding the grasses that the
stock raiser requires.
ltis of importance to the farmer and
stook raiser to be able to know at sight
any grass or sedge. It ia important to
know what grasses to select for meadows
and for permanent paatures. It is important to knew the beat methods of destroying everything that is injurious to the
thrifty growth and permanency of the
best grasses selected. It is very important
tbat every inch of meadows and pastures
be occupied by grass, in order to give the
most abundant yield to the mower or to
the grazing animal.
The earth  "abhors nakedness" and she
makes   great  efforts  to   clothe  herself.
Weeds, bushes,   etc,,   as well  as grass,
answers  in a degree this purpose.   It ia
difficult for one kind of growth to give a
complete covering to the earth.   Among
grasses it is difficult to find an exception
to this rule.   I think  that if we could obtain nve or ten varieties of meadow grasses
adapted to  our soil  and climate and sow
liberally of the seed of each, early in autumn, and in the spring give an additional
liberal seeding with clover,  every square
inch of surface may be occupied permanently with a profitable   growth  for hay
and for pasture.   In the selection I would
exclude timothy because it is not a pasture
grass.   If this can successfully be done,
and it is claimed by Mr, Crozier, of N. Y.,
and others that  better hay and good pastures can be obtained by using orchard
grass,  hard fescue,  rye grass,  Italian rye
grass,  meadow feecue,  with several other
varieties, with Mammoth clover additional.
Now if this be true it is time we are learning it.    If by means of the "mixed grasses"
we obtain a ton more to the acre, and hay
of better quality the  sooner we find it out
the better.   It   would   be  productive  of
grand  results  if the enterprising farmers
of Indiana were in  possession of  a list of
all the pasture grasses that are suitable for
meadow  grasses  too.   Out  of  so  many
varieties there must be 20 that could be
profitably combined or grown on the same
land, when properly mixed for sowing.
If several varieties together will endure
longer than one alone and yield n more
than one, something is gained by the ex
periment, where permanent meadow and
pasture are desired. Why more durable?
If the surface is wholly occupied by cultivated grasses, seeds of sedges and noxious
weeds will be kept off the ground and thus
prevent their growth and occupancy where
they are not wanted. Prevention is better
than eradication.
We hope Prof. Troop will treat fully the
subjects here introduced and give the
readers of the Farmer the information so
necessary, especially to those outside of
the corn land districts and who are in
possession of clay grass growing farms, as
is the case in a large portion of our State.
Lovett, Jennings Co., Ind.      N. D. G.