The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-20
CHINESE SUGAR CANE.

The Chinese sugar cane, or Sorgho Sucre, Is
doubtless to be an institution down South
and, if so, perhaps in Maryland and Virginia
too, and north of that bad line which Messrs.
Mason and Dixon wrote their names upon.
The plant grows and ripens readily in this lati-
tude, and as far north as we have any accounts
of it and if it shall be found to yield as large
an amount of strip as in Georgia the past sea-
son, there is greater reason to hope for the day
of cheap sugar.
Our friends in Georgia are elated with their
success this year, and they have reason to be.
The editor of the Southern Cultiuator says
1t is our deliberate opinion that for soiling,
(cutting green repeatedly for the production
of strip, cider, or wine, alcohol, fodder, and
grain, at the same time, ii will be found invalu-
able to the South"
Mr.. Redmond, of the Southern CNLtirator,
has the credit of introducing the Sorgho Sucre
into Georgia. Through DR.. Battery, of Rome,
Ga, he had its sugar-making quality tested, and
got . sample of crude brown sugar, and q very
good sample of crystallized sugar, which he
believes to be the first crystallized sugar made
in the United States, from the Sorgho Sucre.
Governor Hammond, of South Carolina,
made a report to the Beach Island Farmers
Club, detailing his experiments of the past
season. He succeeded, with very simple ap-
paratus, in making strip of excellent quality,
but did not attempt to make sugar. He found
it very productive in fodder, and yielding very
largely also in seed. The crop may be cut
repeatedly for fodder, as it springs up i'm
mediately after the scythe. He expresses the
belief that owing to the more perfect ma
turing of the plant and the probable fact that
two crops may be grown in a season, the Sorgho
Sucre "wil yield more and better sugar than
the Louisiana cane" A succession of crops
may be arranged, he says, to insure cutting
from the LIST of July until frost. The Governor
means to plant ten acres next season, for fur
Their experiment.
Colonel Peters, Of Ataanta, Ga, has expert
mented likewise with the Sorgho Sucre. We
give below detail of his experiments, being
q portion of circular which he did rs the
favor to leave with us, with bottle of the strip,
which we placed on exhibition at our late show.
He is so we'll satisfied, it will be seen, with his
success, that he means next year to plant fifty
acres.
Should the anticipation of these highly in
telligent gentlemen be realized as to this plant,
it is impossible to over.estimate its value.
age of sugar in the South, it will very probably
pay well in higher ATTITUDES. The plant grows
and ripens perfectly wherever Indian corn
grows, and is extremely vigorous and thrifty.
Should there be difficulty in manufacturing
sugar from it, still a very good strip may be
made by any old woman who can make pot
boil. That it is an excellent plant for fodder
is certain-being voraciously eaten by stock of
all sorts-very productive, and producing sew
eral crops in the season. 1t stands dry weather
remarkably. 1t has the peculiarly of preserv-
ing its fodder perfectly green until the seed
is ripened, 80 that both seed and fodder may
be had in perfection. The seed makes a crop
quite equal, perhaps, to crop of oats. Then,
besides wine, cider, and alcohol, it is said that
paper can be made of the stalk, and brooms of
the brush.
We have at our Office bunch of the brush
with the seed, from the farm of Hon. j. Morri-
son Harris, another raised by Mr.. Edward Slicer,
near this city, and specimen of tall growing
from "Severn Side," sent by Major Giddings
These latter stalks are sixteen feet in length,
and we understand were grown on their land.
1t is not, however, we are informed by Colonel
Peters, the genuine plant, but a cross with some
other of the same family of plants-the com.
mon broom corn, perhaps. 1t is essential that
the SorghO Sucre be kept entirely apart from
all such plants, as the blossoms mix very read
lily. The following extract from Col. Peters's
circular will be read with interest:
"By suggestion of Gov. Hammond, of South
Carolina, l determined to give the sirup-mak-
ing fair trial consequently ordered from the
Messrs. Winship, of Atalanta, very complete
horsepower mill, with vertical iron rollers that
has worked admirably, crushing out juice for
eight gallons of strip per hour, worked by two
mules, with one hand to put in the cane, and
boy to drive.
son the 18th of this month, finding the seed
fully ripe, l had the fodder pulled, and the seed
heads cut. Yield of fodder per acre, LOO to
1900 pounds Yield of seed per acre, Is bush.
els of SO pounds to the bushsl
First trial of mill, 20 average canes gave 20
quarts of juice 6O6 average canes passed once
through the rollers gave 3S gallons quart juice,
passed a second time through gave gallons of
juice-the 40 gallons l quart gave gallons
thick strip.
II carefully measured an 9th of an acre hav-
ing the best canes and the best stand, another
9Th having the poorest canes and the poorest
stand. The result l give below-the canes
passed once through the roller
or