70

.do

do.

90

.do

do

15.0

Dec. 17

W. L. Van Duzor.

132

do.

.do

15.1

12.1

1.00

80.2

136

Jan. 3

do

.do

15.4

12.0

77.9

135

do

do

do

.do

17.5

13.8

78.9

138

.do

do.

do

do

14.0

9.6

76. 1

139

do

do

do

do

14.1

9.4

66.7

137

do

do.

.do

do

15.8

12.1

76.5

140

Jan. 15

do

do

do

16.2

13.2

1.33

81.5

NOTES ON THE ANALYSES.

The most striking characteristic of the analyses is found in the high average percentage of sucrose contained in these canes. Although the growing season in most places where these canes were produced is shorter than in Louisiana and the autumnal frosts come at an earlier date, yet it is seen in almost every instance that the percentage of pure sugar or sucrose in the juice of the canes is higher than the average percentage of the same substance in the canes of Louisiana. This difference must be due largely to the character of the soil. The rich alluvial soils of Louisiana produce a more vigorous growth, as a rule, with a tendency to slower maturity. At the time of harvest, therefore, the canes in Louisiana are greener and less mature than in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

The quantity of reducing sugar, or glucose, as it is commonly called that is, sugars which do not crystallize readily and go to make up the bulk of the molasses in sugar factories-is quite low in most cases. The purities are also comparatively high.

It is evident that cane juices of the composition given would insure a fine yield of crystallized sugar if they were manufactured for sugar instead of sirup. Of course, the great objection to the establishment of a sugar industry in the region mentioned is the comparatively short manufacturing season. The canes are not mature until early in November, while killing frosts, except in Florida, are quite certain to occur before the end of November. These frosts may be at times of exceptional severity, as was the case in 1901, when the frost before the middle of November throughout the cane regions of Georgia was sufficient not only to kill the canes, but also in many cases to freeze them through and through. If in this region a season of three months for sugar making could be assured, it is evident that, in so far as the composition of the canes is concerned, there could be no doubt of the successful establishment of the sugar industry. In the climatic conditions, however, which obtain it would be evidently unwise to advise the establishment of such an industry, at least during the present low prices of sugar.

South Carolina, by reason of the small number of samples sentviz, only one-should be excluded from the comparison of the data by States.

Of the other States, Georgia has sent by far the largest number of samples, and hence the average data from Georgia are more to be relied upon to show the general characteristics of the cane grown in that region than are the data from the other States.

In the 12 samples from Alabama it is seen that the average percentage of sucrose or pure sugar in the juice is 13.2, that of the reducing sugar 1.30, and the purity coefficient 78.8. This is somewhat lower than is desirable, the aim being to have a purity above 80.