Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-08-18
CULTURE OF THE SUGAR CANE.
From the Delta.

Eds. Della: If l had no other evidence of
the interest felt in agriculture in this commu-
nifty, the space devoted to that subject in your
number of the Gath would suffice to convince
me of its paramount Importance. Until l read
the article on Cane Culture, | was not aware
that there was one man engaged in that pur-
suit, and speaking the English language, who
did not at least understand the elementary
principle of agricultural chemistry; and that
cultivation Of the soil had for its principal OBJ
ject the placing Of the means necessary for the
development OF the plant in a more favorable
condition than that presented by nature. Opin-
ions, the result of experience, are commonly
correct, and it is rather a delicate matter to run
counter to them, for you render yourself liable
to close scrutiny and criticism. Your corres-
pendent warns the planter against the use of
the plough which he regards as deliterious
from its perturbating effects upon the roots of
the cane. He must know if he cultivated cane
for nine years, that every root cut, puts out
two from the cut extremity, and that the plant
takes mp what it receives from the soil by the
means Of spongio!es, at the extremities of its
roots, and that the humber of spongieles are
increased by the disturbing agent, he con-
dennis; viz, the plough. The plough incorpor-
ates the atmosphere with the particles it has
comminuted aud increased its contact with in.
organic misunderstanding them fit for the
use Of the plant; at the same time it increases
its capillary power and enables it to draw up
moisture, the same porosity facilitating its per-
meation. The injurious effect of working in
wet weather is in packing the soil, destroying
its permeability, and consequently depriving it
of the action of water and air; each of those
elements giving out its oxygen to both theDr-
ganic and inorganic substances in the soil, rem
der them fit for the uses of the plant at the
same time. They liberate nitrogen and hys
drogen, which, being brought together, form
ammonia.
His views, in relation to the cultivation of
%ratoons, is equally, il not more erroneous, than
Of agriculture in general. When the cane is
cut for making sugar, or remains, and is sub
jected to the effects of the winter, the roots be-
come simple ibrlnogs threads of no imports
ance to the more than the roots of
wheat stubble an to the grain intended for
seed the following year. Tn sam principle
is necessary to d~evelope vegetation in each
the only difference being in the location of the
germ. In the cane the germ is on one side of
the joint, end is ordinarily termed an eye, and
contains the entire rudinents of a complete
plant, only requiring the action of heat and
moisture to enable the diastase to produce its
~catalytic effect upon the fecula to evince the
phenomena of vegetation. To support this
vegetation, radiclesshoot forth, under the same
influence, from the entire circumference of the
joint; and the germ receives nutriment from
no other source until the leaves are suficient-
" developed to extract it from the atmosphere.
No practical planter doubts the result that
would follow Graduating the slubble, depriv.
ing them of the effete desiccated roots, and
placing them in properly prepared land as plant
cane. The product would be quadrupled. and
the only objection to it is the immense amount
of labo. it would require.
am' only a practical planter. and should like
to know the result Of the gentleman's nine
,years' experience, whether the result of his
successors' labors were ro:a considerable aug
ments,ion .ir.the products of the plantation; tor
my experience of over twenty five years would
lead me TO expect 1t, and | woh'd back nv
opinion that by d fferent cultivation and en-
Pertaining different views, I had made more SUI
ias Zone year than be did in any FIVE ~co!.ec-
siyely.N think he must have had very little
time to devote to agriculture or sugar making.
1t must have been entirely taken up with the
great discovery he has made, that cane-tops
were only "woody fibre" and taat "they pro.
duce no Observation-Disclosures generate am.
maais: Fhe srsifitiatad wore faliy in4Aaeassa
with the idea that cane>iops possessed all the
elements required for The growth of cane
such as gum, muci.age, dextrine, starch, eel
lulose and lignin, as non azotized al6umsn,
6brine, %caseine, gleudine, gluten and diastase az
constituents with q number of al
bases and mineral acids, &c.
My principle object in writing this IS TO draw
forth from the gentleman the success OF his
experiment; how many acres he cultivated and
how many bogsheads Of sugar he made dur
each Of his nine years experiencs, to compare
with the nine subsequent years of his
successor. Very respectfully, yours. &c,
III. D.. New River