The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-01-23
COMMUNICATIONS
For hs Lancdster Ledger.
SORGUM SUGAR CANE.


MK EpIron: Our attentive and able
Representative in Congress, tho Hon.
JoHS McQukxs, has sent the Agrieul,u
raj Society Of this District, few seeds Of
this plant. On the envelope containing
the seed. i,a printed circular, giving the
folio ring description:
"Besides sugar, this plant give, sLund
ance Of alcohol, species Of cider, molssses,
convertible into rum, and = valuable dye.
The leaves and refuse cane, arc excellent
food for cattle" ....
The seed, it also states, was raised in
the Botanic Gardens at wsshing,on.Up-
on receiving the seed, and seeing that it
contsined 40 MANY various properties, /
became de,irous of knowing more about
it; and, fortunately. | had just received,
through the kindness Of our worthy Sxna-
tor, Judge EVANS, the Patton, Office Az.
ricul,u'a! Report, for the year 1854. A
plato is there given, representing tho sp.
pearanes and growth Of the plant, and
also, description, by.,a correspondent
who has seen It growing in France, and
by person Who infer. WAS employed
by the Government, and sent to Europe,
to search out and obtain new varieties Of
seeds, and to give the necessary Informs.
ton with respect to their uses and cult.
walton. He states, that ..... ....
"A new gramineous plant, which seems
to DC destined to take au Important posi-.
.ion smonS our economical products, wa,
sent, some four years ago. from the north
Of China, by A. MoSrIsS. the French Con.
sul At Shanghai, to the Geographical So
ciety Of Paris. From the cursory exsmi.
nation Of small field Of it, growing a,
Vorriercs. in France, in autumn last, I was
led to infer that, from the pcculsrity of,he
climate, and its resemblance, in appesrr
an"o and habit, to Indian Corn, it would
flourish in apy region, wherever that plant
would thrive. But how Ear il will sub.
serve the purposes aseriLed to it in France,
should it even sueeeei in any part OF the
United States, can only bs determined bv
extensive eIpcrimcnts."
The So,gho Suere is = plant which.
on rich land, grows to height Of from Q
to feet, or moro. Its stems are straich,
and 'mooth, having leave, soinew bat
fleIuons and falling over. greatly resem.
bling Indian Corn in appearance, but il
moro elegant in form. II is generally
cultivated in bills, containing 8 or 10
stalks each, which bear at their tops. a
conical panical Of dense flowers, green at
first, but changing into violet shades, and
finally into dark purple at maturity. In
France It is an annual, where its eul,ivs.
ton and period Of growth, correspond
with those Of Indian Corn. but from OBJ.
servations made by NJ. VhxoR,xx, i, il
conjectnred that, from tho yigor and full
mesa Of the lower part o. tho stalks, in
autumn, BY protecting them during the
winter. they would produce new plants tho
following spring. II cultivated in our
'ov'hern States, 1t Is robHblo ,ha, the
roots would send forth new shoots in the
spnng without psotec,ion.; in the same
manner rs its supposed congenos, the Dou.
rah Corn. Any suckers or superfI.sous
shoots ~hich may spring up in the course
Of tive season, slrould be removed. Ac
eording to the experience Of Is. PossAxr,
the seeds yegetsts when bot slishly COW
cred with earth. The great ohject sought
in France, in the cultivation Of this plant.
Is the juice contained in its stalks, which
furnishes three importan. products, n.,ne.
ly, sugar, which Is identical with that Of
cane, alcohol, and = tsrrsepssd drink,
snalagcas to cider"
! bsvo givsn such sxtraetts in rels.
.ion to this plant, as will enable the asri.
cul.uri,, to form some opinion Ok hs u,iIi.
~ and adaptation TO our Climate. II
one half Of what is said about it should
prove, in our clireste, to be true, il is q,
least worthy Of Trial. hope the ener-
ge,ic, zealous and intelligent President Of
the, Lancaster Agricultural Society will
give il trial. He has the means and
talents to prove. or refuts its uoy,h. Just
think OF Il, ono plan. giving Us our sugar,
ehlsrr, molasse', sum-. and dye stud. sad
,hen the leaves and refuse caue furnishing
food fos ous Cattle!
re, I'll OAR ftl,nixk Sits R s~ k~enl~~ei