Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-25


We would call attention to the following ex-
tract from Chambers Ediuburg journal, as it
embraces peculiar facts in relation to the valu-
able plant recently introduced into this country
from China. A large quantity of the seed
was grown last summer at the National Botanic
Garden in this city, which is now being distri-
buted by the attentive gentleman in charge
there to members of Congress and others, who
States:
"We turn now TO the new drink. This it is
proposed to produce in circnitous way from
Chinese plant, known to botanists as the
Holcus SacchGratus, which was introduced into
France few years ago, and into England last
year. Chemical analysis shews this plant as
containing lS3 per cent. Of saccharine matter,
being higher proportion than in the case of
beet The sugar is obtained from the juice in
the same way as that of the sugar.cane; but
it appears that sometimes as much as third
OF the total amount of sugar in the juice is
not crystallisable, so that under certain circum-
stances the saccharine matter of the plant can
not be rendered wholly available in the sugar
mandatory. In fact, it is expected that in
the actual produce of marketable sugar, the
holcns can compete with beet only in the 44th
and lower degrees of latitude.
How, then, is this plant to be made avail
able as British crop? 1t appears that, while
the saccharine Juice produced in cold countries
is incapable Of profitable conversion into sugar,
it is, on the other hand, precisely in the most
favorable condition for the distier To the
difficulty of crystallisation is attributed the
facility with which the juice enters into fer
mentation, and the large amount of alcohol it
affords compared with the quantity Of sugar
! directly indicated by the saccharometer. M.
Vimorin, who has carefully examined the ca
liabilities Of this crop, believing that it would
be most advantageously cultivated for its alco-
holic products, obtained results indicating a
slightly higher production of sugar than beet,
which, from 40,l47 pounds of roots, yields
1877 pounds OF sugar per acre. But the differ
ence In alcohol is more important, beet yield
ing 100 gallons only while holcus gives 1872
gallons--a difference of 60 gallons on the acre;
and it is as drink plant therefore, and not as
food-plant, that the Holcus saccharatus must
be accepted Instead Of standing up as a
rival to beet, it will become substitute, or
rather supplement, to the vine, which has of
late years been SO severely threatened with
blight.
:" In France, the capabilities of the plant
have been demonstrated. NJ. de Beauregard
having fermented, by means of the refuse of
grapes, quantity of the juice of the holcus in
his wine-vats, obtained an alcohol of excellent
flavor, which he sent to the market at Marseille,
where it realised the same price as the ordinary
alcohols there exposed. OF all substitutes for
the vine that have hitherto been tried, DIR. Tur-
rell believes the holcus to be the best, produc-
ing an alcohol altogether superior to every
other
" But the holcus has nobler aspirations, and
is likely to minister substantially to our intel
lectual wants. 1t responds to the cry for rags,
by yield of four tons an acre of material for
paper. making, after the juice has been extract
ed. Nor is this all. A writer in the Gardeners
Chronicle says: Attention has been drawn to
novelty of the year, in the shape Of tall
reedy grass, called Holcus sacchardt,ls, of
whose economical virtue find that great ex.
pectatlons are raised. :. L.. The Deccan
sportsmen and officers use it largely, under the
name OF Jotrdree, in preference to the coarse
grass or hay obtainable there, In feeding their
hunters and chargers, which thrive well upon
it; SO much SO, indeed, that when sent to the
coast for racing purposes, supply Of it inva-
riably accompanies them"
Besides sugar, this plant gives abundance of
alcohol, species of cider, molasses convertible
into rum, valuable dye. The leaves and re-
fuse cane are excellent food for cattle.-(See
Patent Office Agricultural Report, 1854, page
2l9)