The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-12-20
Iuricul furai
Cn;n.., Su-ar cane or Sugar MiIIet.

Iae sugar NlIlei. sorghum SdCcHdFtW u
plant that very much resembles the common
broom corn; the head or seeds, however,
grow in more compact form. This and
some other varieties of Ail!et, nesrly allied
to II. have been grown in the United States
rather as q nevclty, for some years past II
is but recently that II has attracted any at
tentiOa in this country a 4 sugar producing
plant. M ID. j. Brown. ct the head of the
Agricultural Department Of the |. states
Patent Office. gave some account 81 !; IN his
Report for 1857. The seeds that Were ais
tributei from the Patent Office, we believe
were obtained from France, but previous to
that time we received some seeds OF II IN
letter from a friend in Massachusetts,, who
prev IL from seeds said to have been found
in the folds Of the covering Of an Egyptian
mummy. but OF this we think there may be
some doubt
The s9rgIua saccLaruys has, for ages been
cultivated as a sugar plant in China and
Southern Africa. 1t has been cultivated in
every latitude in the United States with per-
feet success where Indian corn will mature.
y few experiments have been made the
past season in pressing the juice and redu-
cling IT to syrup. The most sue eSSiui and
extensive of these experiments have been
by Col. Richard Peters, of Atlanta, GeorSia,
aided by DIR. Robert B.ttcy. OF Rome, Ga.
From the sacchaTine properties when 'oi-
Peters found the canes 10 possess, tie was
induced to procure 7 crushing ri!il, and to
press the canes and make q thorough test
as TO It's syrup producing qualities. The
mill was 4 small one, which crushed cUi bat
eight gallons of juice per hour, WORKED by
two mules with one hand to put in the cane
AID BOY 20 drive the mules. From one
eighth of an acre of land Of ordinary quail
tv, 3,31j canes were cut and run through
the mill, producing 253 gallons Of juice;
this being reduced TO syrup, gave IS ID
gallons,-eIual to 4GS gallons OF syrup per
acre.
Tie canes from which Col. Peters made
these experiments were suffered u nearly
mature their SEEDS lie first had the blades
pulled for fodder, which yielded 1000 lbs
10 the acre. The seed was then gcathercd
and Welded - bushels, Of 80 pounds to the
busheI, per acre.
Ii is evident that in allowing the seed to
mature, much Of the sa-charine properties
Of the plant are CXi.auste! by the develop
meut of the seed. 1t is from the practice
in the management Of this plant, in other
countries, and from subsequent experiments
in our country, that we must look to deter
mine whether the seeds should be allowed
TO mature, or 1t what stage Of their growth
thev should be removed We VII! also here
remark, that in cu'tiyating this kind of
grain, care should be taken that il is planted
far remote from any of the similar varieties,
like the Guinea corn or Broom corn, as it is
extremely liable 10 mix" ard become aL-
liberated.
By tests made at the mill. by DR. Blttey,
the specific gravity of the juice was found
to be I.0SJ
% syrup l,%35
Thermometer applied to syrup ~
Saccharometer % 25l-2o
The process of evaporattng the syrup is
thus given by Col. Peters: The juice
should be placed N boilers Immediately on
being pressed out, then boiled slowly until
the green scum ceases to rise; then stir in a
teaspoonfUl Of air->lackc1 lime TO five gal
Ions OF juice; CONTINUE skimniHg AMI boil.
Ing unit! the syrup thickcaS and hangs down
in flakes on the rim Of the dippcr
Il have made the dearest syr,.? by sim
ply boiling and Swimming, without lime or
other CHARTERS. Lime IS requisite to ncu-
traiZe portion Of the acid in the juice;
the true proportion must be determined by
well conducted experiments"
We have been favored with a specimen Of
this syrup which we find pleasant to the
taste, and IS far rs We can discover. we sec
no reason why II cannot be made equal in
every respect to the NV Orleans syrup.
30 FAR as we have been informed. 10 at
tempt has yet been made % reduce the svr-
up 10 sugar
The seeds of this plant have been wide'y
dissclnia2sed over tie couatrv. and more
thorough experiments will undoubtedly be
made another year, which will shed much
hight upon the process of making both srr-
up and sugar; and should prove Is success
ful as the present imperfect experiments
Seem 20 warrant, We see no reason why stI-
Gar may not be produced 10 advantage in
every portion of the country whcr. Indian
corn i successfully cultivated
W bile tie increasing demand for sugar. In
the United states i more than equal to the
increase in Pop-lI;;oa, there are causes Cp-
Grating to greatly diminish the supply
In the British W.>. ladies', the proIGc-
ton of sugar row IS much less than it was
years ago. In Frlucr, owing to the success
sIvc failures Of the grape crop and the rap
idly increasing demand cJr brandy. the best
root from which formerly the nation vas
chiefly supplied with sugar, has recently
been 10 very great extent, employed in tie
manufacture OF brandy. and the prospect
now IS that the entire product of the most
valuable root in that country VIII be divert
Cd from its gitiHats use, to this purpose.
These and other cauSes viii continue 70
operate to render the Introduction of some
new plant capable Of supplying the def
cheney Of sugar in the United States. mos:
desirable, and it is to the Chinese SUGAR
cane that we look with the hope Of success
Of fully meeting this deEaut- Jel.ry Far
TIc-, -. LCHts.