Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-05
From the Southern Cult.
CHINESE SUGAR CANE
It's Value as Sugar, Grain, Forage
and Producing Plant.

and producing rant.
In tho winter Of 1866, the ju-
nior editor Of this journal obtain
ed from Boston a few ounces Of
seed of this plant, then newly
imported from France. 1t came
very highly recommended as a
sugI,r producing and forage plant,
but having q vivid recollection Of
many previous disappointments
with new-angled "notions," we
concluded to test it cautiously,
and very moderately. In order,
however, to give it e good trial,
we distributed small parcels per
mail to friends in various portions
of Georgia and the adjoining
States, and planted for ourselves
only seven or eight hills, in poor
spot in our garden. At first it
came up like grass or Egyptian
Millet, and grew off slowly and
weakly; but in a few weeks it be-
gan to shoot upward, and in
three months attained the height
of s or 10 feet, with large and
we'll filed heads Of seed, some
what resembling Broom Corn,
but covered with a black husk or
chalf. Passing by it once when
the seed was near or quite ripe,
we concluded to test the sweet
ness of the stalk, so, cutting a
moderate sized cane near the
ground, and peeling off its hard
outside coat, we found a solid pith
of three-lourths Of an inch in d.
ameter, crisp, brittle, and OF
sweet and exceedingly pleasant
flavor-wholly and entirely un-
like anything Of the common
stalk family that we had ever
tasted. 1t was, in fact, ready
made candy. And as soon as
the younger members Of the fam
lily, and the negroes, got the taste
Of it, we were obliged to inter-
dict its further use, in order to
save seed. When the latter were
fully ripe, we cut of the heads
and saved them carefully, MOTTO
ing, with surprise, that the leaves
or blades Of fodder were still as
fresh, green and succulent as ever
The stalks we're then cut off near
the ground and fed-leayes and
ALTO our mich COWS, horses and
mules-all of which ate it with
the greatest apparent relish anc
avidity. Considering the croT
disposed Of for the season, w
paid no more attention to The
stubble OF stumps, until we hap
pened to notice that, millet-like
they were shooting out anew, ant
pushing out for a second growth
This growth We watched will
some interest, until the first fros
checked tat which time thu
stalks were six feet high, full
broad and juicy leaves, and will
the second crop Of seed just ma
making its appearance above thu
shoot"
FULLY satisfied by this that !
was valuable at least for the prod
uction Of soiling forage and a dri
ed fodder, we next turned our at
tention to It's saccharine proper
ties. and fortunately induced on
friend DR.. Robert Battey, O
Rome, Ga, who was at that timI
pursuing the study Of experimen
tai chemistry in the we'll know
labratory Of Prof Booth, of Phil
adelphia, to test II. AS the re
suit Of his experiments, DIR. Bat
tey sent US three small phials,-
one containing a fine syrup, one
sample Of crude brown sugar, an,
the other fair specimen ofcrys
tallized sugar.
This We believe to DO tho frs
crystalized sugar made in tn
United States from Sorcho Sucre
and as Dr. Battey's opinion Q
its value as plant fully agree,
with the report Of the French 50
vans who had examined andinves
tigated its properties, and wit
our own convictions, who thi
year disseminated it more wilel,
and planted nearly two acres. 10
the express purpose Of raising tn
seed, aud testing the ability Q
the plant, 10 bear repeated cut
tings, like the Egyptian and 9th
err varieties Of millet. II wa
planted very late in the season
! on poor soil, and has received bu
imperfect culture, and yet. at tn
present time,.---August 25,-
portion Of it has been cut tire
times, and is growing of finely
while the remainder has ripene
its seed, and will yield a full Gro
of excellent fodder after the pre-:
ent stalks are cut of at tn
ground and crushed for syrup, Q
4. -.