The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-12-06
Sugar Millet.


the information possible in reference to
the sugar millet, or Chinese sugar cane
Twill give you such facts as ] have been
able to obtain in reference to it, from
my own experiments.
] planted a paper of seed, obtained
from the Patent Office, in my irrigated
garden. The ground occupied was one
square rod. 1t was planted quite late,
and not very well attended. for, to tell
the truth, considered it rather in the
light of hoax.
/ The seed resembled broom corn, and
the stalk had so much the appearance
of broom corn as to make me quite sure
fitwas broom corn.
Being planted late it had only pro-
duced its first appearance of heading,
when there was premature frost in
August, which nearly terminated its
growth. 1t had, however, previously
made rank growth, and was seven to
ten feet high.
About two weeks since, wanted the
ground for transplanting straw berries,
and had the Millet cut down and laid
in heaps on the ground. 1t had laid
in this position about ten days, when
my attention was arrested by an article
in your paper from Ex-Governor Ham
mond, furnished by Mr.. r. Buchanan.
/ proceeded at once to make test OF
mine, to ascertain the amount of saccha-
rine matter contained in it. l had no
rollers for pressing the juice, and was
at first at loss to know how l could OBJ
tain the juice. I finally hit upon pro
jeet that answered very well. Some of
the canes were cut in pieces about three
inches long, making about half a BUSH
ell of the pieces.
These pieces were put into one OF
Hickok's portable cider mills = (and
here allow me to say that this mill has,
! in my opinion, no equal, as a cheap and
efficient cider mill y and as the grind
ing cylinders are of cast iron. the cane
was thoroughly and speedily ground
through it. The mass was then placed
in the tub and pressed, afording full
seven quarts of juice. This juice was
levsporated until it was reduced to about
one quart, which proved to be very
fair specimen of molasses. No cleans
ing was done except the use of small
amount OF soda and little milk.
| What effect the injury by frost and
the exposure while laying ON the ground
may have produced upon the quantity
and quality of the product, | cannot de-
eide. 1t must have been detrimental
in both respects.
But even allowing s gallons of juice
to one of molasses, it would afford a pro-
duct of 4 gallons of molasses per
square rod, or $40 gallons per acre. 1t
is true the ground on which it was plant
ed was very rich, and was irrigated
when necessary, in common with some
two acres or more which have in straw
berries and garden products.
Ihave an invention for boiling salt
and sugar, for which letters patent were
granted to me on the 18th of July, 1854,
by which l can construct boiler that
will contain five or six barrels, at a cost
for construction not exceeding So, and
smaller size in propotion. They may
be constructed so as to be set up and
used anywhere, (in-doors OF out, re-
quiring no brick for arching.
When necessary, several of them may
be connected into series, SO that the
heat shall pass through them all, and
as the syrup becomes more conccntrat-
ed, it constantly recedes from the great
heat of the arch. At each passage from
one boiler or pan to the other, the
change is not only effected without any
labor, but the syrup may be filtered
through flannel or sand for publication
while on its passage, and the process oil
boiling be completed so remote from the
great heat of the arch, as not only to Sc
cure it from burning, but to save all the
heat for evaporation.
shall look with interest for tho state
ments of others more accustomed to the
manufacture of sugar or molaSses, In or
der to establish the real value of this
NEW sugar plsnt.-Prairie Farmer.