The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-11-06
PAYABLE IN ADVANCE
From the Seirntifc american.
GROWING THE CHINEsE SUGAR CAME

and as you have given us an article on this
subject in No. I, Vol. NJ, of the Scientific
american, thought I would wri,o down
and send you the result Of my own expert.
ence i'll the growth of this plant.
Some timo during the last winter Oh.
taiped about three hundred seeds of the
Sorgho Sucre" from tue Patent Office.
which planted on the 1st Of May last, on
land that had been cleared three years ago.
land the field off in checks three feet apart
for corn. In some Of these hills I planted
The seeds Of this sugar cane, dropping eight
seeds i'll hill, making thirty.seven hills in
all. I worked the cane precisely as did
the corn, giving it three plowings and three
hoeings. In four months from the time
the seed was planted, the cane was fully
matured. 1t then measured ten feet six
inches high, and one inch and tlrce-eiglths
in diameter at the butt end Tie Joints
average twelve in number 10 the cane.
measuring from six to eleven inches long.
the shortest at the bottom and the longest
at the top. AS soon as the seed was ripe,
another head of seed put up out of the
second joint from the top. aud in short
time grew as high as the original head,
though not quite SO large. BY the time
tho seed on this head began to turn dark, a
third head sprung up from the third joint,
which was abou. tile size of the last head,
and now fourth head is making its an.
pearance from the fourth joint. Where
this shooting forth of new heads would end.
If no frost should come to kill it, cannot
tell. The roots, where ! cut off some of
the canes, some time ago, are sending up
new sprouts, some Of which are four inches
high. [ am of the opinion the Sorgl,o
sucre Is perennial plant, and would grow
all the time if there were no severe cold to
kill it. 1t appears to surpass anything We
can plant in producing fodder for CATTLE
There are commonly twelve leaves on a
cane, and these measure, on an average,
three feet long, and three inches and half
broad. We commonly plant two stalks of
corn in a hill: I lad eight canes in the
same space, each cane producing full az
much fodder rs one stalk of corn. At this
rate, which is to mo matter of fact, ono
aero of cane will produce MS much fodder
as four acres Of corn. But I am pursuaded
that I might have planted the cane in drills
Of three feet apart, dropping eight seeds I'm
every space of eighteen inches, and by this
means have eight tim as much fodder as
corn would rroduca,
One head of seed that I picked nm a.
random measured three gills, and one Gill
contained eight hundred seeds. then Sc
lected large head, and measured it, and
found it to contain four and a half gills of
seed. The thirty-seven hills that planted,
produced three pecks of seed, this, after
drying it two days in the sun, weighed
thirty-two pounds. 1 had no mill to
squeeze the cane, in order to make expert
ments in syrup and sugar. made little
roller, which I thought might press out
some of the sap, but it was failure, for
want of sufficient power. Il flattened the
cane, but did not press out the sap, Of
which the cane appeared to be full. I
twisted joint in my hands after being flat
tened with the roller, and obtained about
half gill Of sap, which was as sweet as
any Of the sap Of the sugar cane Of the
South: intend, Providence permitting; to
plant at least half an acre next spring. and
procure proper mill and boilers, and make
a thorough experiment.
JOS: MCKEE.
Juno, Lun,pkin Co., Ga., Sept, 1855.
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Time to Set Appls Trees October ia
ono Of the best months to transplant apple
trees. After the frost has 60 nipped the
leaves as to atop the circulation Of the aan.
tho trees may be taken up and trans
planted. Ts5s%
1t is question whether tLis worlsiss beat
done in the fall or the spring. Eeh season
has its advantages. we Iayel,lioro ti,na
in autumn, and aswe can cd easily !, ,banksup
tho tree with earh To- supppsts ts s,Iasso
keep away the mice, We mead snos sjlsassso,
set our best trees is soon as they csasssse
grow. s.ss. .ssl ~ %
If any one would set stress bstora siSx
frost has nippeds ths Issy, ia nay 4ls,Iak
by first strippiag o sll @ isass l6SK q
will no longer dsas ieYft ~. ~
II AZ will Ia ,sitY avs -