Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-03-11

have not heard for some time, promis-
es US with much geographical lDforma.
ton, and in the mean time furnishes us
with the following interesting account OF
the cultivation of the Sugar Cane.
Volusio, st. Johns E. Florida, ,
Februory3.
clam sure you will receive with plea
sure the information, that the sugar cul
tiyation has been commenced here.
This species of agriculture, should 1t sue
coed, of which there can be no doubt, will
tend to render the United States lnds
pendent of other countries, for the sup
Div of an article which is as we'll a ne
ee sary OF life q. an elegant luxury A
cargo of Cane was landed here from
Georgia, on he first of the month, and
the planting of the same Immediately be-
gun at this place; which is situated On
the St Johns, four miles to the south OF
Lake George. The beds were made
five feet apart, and nine inches nigh and
the cane set in the proportion OF Z hun
dred eyes to one hundred feet.-Several
enterprizing individuals have engaged
in this undertaking, two of whom are
Planters FROM the Island of Cuba, and
therefore adequate judges of the adap-
ton Of the soil and climate OF the pro-
duction of this new staple. Without
hswsver, any such sanction, it night
have been safely concluded, that the cane
could be sown with superior advantage
in this country. as the greater part OF this
Province is TO the south of the MissIsslP
pi, where the plant hourishss SO we'll,
while the air is drier and Of less intem-
psrature than in any part of Louisiana.
The slight frosts that occur here, are
said by those acquainted with the culti-
vation, to act advantageously on the crop
as they give simultaneous check to the
plant, and thus render the ingathering
Of the harvest the more easy.
That Sugar yields a greater profit
than any other staple raised within our
units, the following statements which
are more moderate than the estimates
usually made, will at once shsw: In the
Is and OF Cuba where good land is from
thirty fifty dollars, and the average of
negroes four hundred and fifty dollars
Sugar four dollars hundred, gives a
profit Of six per cent upon the capital In
vested in the cultivation. 1t must there
fore in the United States, where duty is
saved upon the article, afford at the very
lowest possible es innate, eight per cent
interest upon whatever property may be
embarked in its production 1t Is more
ever we'll known that three and half a.
ores can be attended to by each hand,
and that on good land 5O00lbs maybe as
sumed as an average crop. which at 8 cts
per 10. will produce profit Of two hun
drsd and forty dollars the acre, or eight
hundred and forty dollars to each hand.
These calculations are made with refer
ence to the ordinary mode Of planting
by the hoe, with carts Transportation,
and common mill; but by the plough
and steam engine to crush the cane,
much more could be made shan appears
in the foregoing statements. The mo
lasses has not been included In these ex
hibits, as it pays the usual expenses OF
the whole establishment Host of the
land on the part of the river, is thought
suitable for the cane, and persons desi.
rous of engaging in its cultivation, will
doubtless be attracted to it's banks, by
the further advantage it affords of a safe
and convenient navigation. In the
quarter from which | write, they would
be enabled to obtain the Seed Cane on
the spot, and be aided in their first ef-
forts by persons already settled here.
The Johns is truly magnificent
stream. preserving an average breadth
of upwards of two miles and half for a
hundred miles from its mouth, AID often
embaying itself in beautiful expanses or
lakes of four and five miles IN breadth.
Its banks, or rather coasts, present an
unbreken line Of towering forests, that
are destined soon to bow their proud
heads to the axe, and open new avenues
to the march of civilization Up to this
point, distance Of $50 from the sea, the
navigation is easy for vessels of IS tons.
One of that burthen is now lying at the
'anding ofthis place, beingt first that
ever has been this high. BY recent in
designations, two feetmore of water has
been found upon it's bar than it was pre-
vously supposed to afford. Wereit not
for the bar at the 8 uthern extremity of
Lake George, on which there is six feet
water, whatever vessels passed the
mouth of the river could come up this
far and 90 g far hevond as the stream