Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-01-27
Agricultural.

THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE IN SouTH-
rRs ILLIsoIs.-Being requested by many
to publish a statement, through the col
umns of your paper, of my experience
with, and the value of the Chinese SUI
gar Cane, I therefore send you the fol-
lowing statement, which you please will
insert:
On the 25,h of May 1 planted about
half an acre of ground, one year old
A portion of the soil was low and wet in
the spring--in fact | covered the seed
with mud, the other part was high and
sandy; the consequence was, when the
dry season set in the wet part baked very
hard, and the high burnt up for want of
rain. | ploughed it when about ten inch
es high, and a slight hoeing previous to
ploughing; my object was to ascertain the
amount of saccharine matter contained in
the stalks, and supposed enough would
grow to make the experiment. Many of
the stalks grew from sixteen to twenty
feet high, Tin the low ground it only grew
twelve feet.)
Having made a mill in which to grind
It. l commenced on the 24th OF Scptem-
Der. The cane then had received two or
three frosts, which slightly injured the
taste or The water. | am convinced that
the amount of stalks | used can be grown
on less than q quarter of an acre. The
| afnOnnt of water Obtained form the piece
was go gallons, from which | made Is
gallons, which, IN flavor and beautiful
, bright red color is far superior to anv mo-
Eases obtained from the South. | did not
try TO grain any of 1t, as 1t will not grain
after being frosted; but | am convinced
there will be no difficulty in granting !,
II tried previous TO frost. If 1t is planted
by the middle OF May, it will ripen bv
the end Of August, and remain In good
condition until frost, and if cut up and put
IN a shed I'm apprehension of frosi) it
Will keep well for a month or more.
will give statement of what NAV be
made per acre, Judging from the amount
OF water obtained from each stalk One
OF my neighbors, Mr.. A. began, obtain
ed from seven choice stalks one gallon OF
water; and in another trial made by Mr..
McCicary, Sen. and myself we pressed
from ten stalks one gallon and a quart
The number of stalks III a hill should be
from four 10 SIX. In my calculations | on
~ estimate one quart of water TO a hill.
allowing sixteen hills per square rod,
which will make $3.50 hills to the acre 4;
and this, at one quart per bill. will make
64O gallons OF water, which will make l 10
gallons OF molasses. Valued at IS cents
per gallon, 1t would amount 10 $50 so per
acre, and | do not n, state in saving that
the amounts may te doubled
/ would urge npon the farmers of the
we.te RI country to try it. You will not
ouly save, hat make money by the opera
ton. ! am well convinced that in 1860
the southern planter will have no sale
tor his sugar IN the state Of Illinois,
From present indications there will be
one hundred acres raised in Wabash coun-
~ next year, which will save the county
Slu,OOO. The time to commence work
ing the cane i when the seeds have
/ changed from green to a dark red hue.
although II will remain good until fairly
matured.
Should any person wish to make the
experiment, ! have some seed to SPARE
one quart will plant an acre. j. NJ
arch, McCleary's Bluff, Wabash county
Illinois, Grays;ille Herald.