The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-10-29
THE CHINESE sUGAR-cANE.


THE CHINESE sUGAR-cANE.
Among the exotic plants recently intro
. duced into this country by the Patent Office,
! in the prosecution Of its " agricultural opera
tions," is the "chinese sugar-cane," or
sorgho sucre," Sorghum saccharafuna.)
The history Of its introduction and some ac-
count Of its success have been from time to
} time laid before the public through the CO.
lumns Of the lntelligencer and other chan
nels, exciting the scepticsm Of many and
even the derision OF some, but fortunately
awakening the curiosity and enterprise of dis
, cerning and intelligent agriculturists in va
} rious sections OF the United States. We have
now the qualification Of realizing the happy
results Of the Investigations and abors OF
this latter class, in the successful cultivation,
il is hoped and believed, of one of the most
valuable products Of the soil that has eve
. engaged the attention Of the husbandman-a
product which, there is wcli-grounded reason
! for assuming, will Of itself, in brief period,
more than recompense all the pecuniary aid
) and labor that have been bestowed upon the
) whole subject Of agriculture by our Govern
ment. in the introduction Of plant that may
= be prOpagated with advantage in every loca.
Il
tial aliment and luxury to every family at
an exceedingly low cost, and that may before
II long enable Us TO export to various portions
J Of The world an article Of merchandise that we
! now import to the amount Of nearly fifteen
!, millions Of dollars a year.
II lis a singular and gratifying coincidence
that the introduction Of this plant, and the
discovery Of its great excellence and adapta.
ton to the soil aud climate of many regions
Of the United States. should be made at the
precise moment Of heapparent decadence Of
the culture Of sugar upon the plantations Of
the South. That this may not result 10 the
disadvantage Of tie important interests in
volyed in these plantations is not only desir-
: ed, but believed by those who are fostering
the cultivation Of the new plant; for il ap.
pears to be the accepted opinion that, though
the latter may prosper in any locality in
which maize or Indian corn succeeds, yet the
!, soil and climate capable Of producing the
~ ar cane will prove the best adapted of all
TO the sorgho sucre, and that it will hence
I. flourish there in its greatest perfection.
The annexed communication comes to us
j from gentleman whose high intelligence,
social position, and character. as well as the
fact that his name has been hitherto honora
bly connected with enterprises Of agricultural
Improvement. demand for his representations
10 the confidence Of every reader.
COMMUNICATION.
MFssRs. EDToRs: feel il my duty tomake
= knoan 10 the Southern public the result Of
nv srup making from the Chinese sugar
millet, in hopes that others who have sown
= this valuable variety Of the millet NAV be in
I ..0a slt
send you few joints Of the cane, and a
sample Of the slrup. OF which have made
several barrels.
obtained my start of seed during the
spring Of 1855 from d. Redmond, Esq, ol the
" Southern Cultisator." | considered II a
!" humbug" from its close resemblance in seed
.. and growth TO the " Guinea ccrn," until my
~ ~ children, towards fall, made the discovery
81 Of lis being to their taste equal TO the true
as sugar cane.
This year planted one patch April 18th,
and another MAY 18th, near Calhoun, Cor
y don county. on land that would produce dur.
ing seasonablc" year forty bushels of corn
per acre, and this year not over twenty BUSH
els.
The seed were sown carelessly in drills
three feet apart, aud covered with one horse
plough. intended TO " chop out" TO stand
nf one stack six inches apart in the row, but
failed TO get n good stand, as the seed came
- up badly, from the deep and irregular cover.
: ing. worked this out, as for corn, plough.
ing twice and hocing once.
AT the suggestion 81 Gov. Hammond, ol
~ sauth Carolina, deicrmind to give the sirup.
making lair trial. and consequently ordered
from the Messrs. Winship Of Atlanta. very
complete horsepower mill, withyertical iron
j, rollers, which has worked admirably, crush
= ing out juice for eight gallons Of sirup per
NJ hour. Il is worked by two mules, with one
al hand 10 put in the cane and a boy to drive.
On Tie 18th II this month, finding the seed
ne fully ripe, had The fodder pulled aud The
es' seed heads cut.
= he yield Of fodder per acre is 1000 ia
500 lbs, and yield Of seed 2j bushels, ol
Sc lbs. TO the buslel. At the first trial Of the
mill, 20 average canes gave 90 qts. Of iuire
eh Subsequently, COG average Canes, passed once
rs through the rollers. gave 3S gallons and dti
= passed second time through, ? gallons
be The 40 gallons and. qt. gave 8 gallons ol
les thick sirup.
IN. carefully measured an eighth Of an acre
on having the best canes aud the best stand
ms ns and another eighth having the poorest cane.
Il. and the poorest stand. The result give
below, the canes passed once through The rol
ler.
= Besf Eighth IF an .AeSe.
Weld of juic. n, sais canes 255 gallons.
-. fd8a 4al re =