Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-02-12
Cultivation.

Since its introduction into this country,
the Chinese sugar cane has proved itself
well adapted to our geographical range of
Indian corn. It is easy of cultivation, be-
ing similar to that of maize OF broom corn,
but viii prosper in a much poorer soil
1t does not succeed well, however, when
sown broadcast with The view of producing
fodder, as it will not grow to much more
than half its usual height. If the seeds
are planted In May, in the Middle States,
or still earlier at the South, two crops of
fodder can be grown in a season from the
the same roots-the first in June or July,
to be cut before the panicles appear, which
would be green and sueculent, like young
Indian corn-and the other a month or
two later, at the time or before the seed is
fully matared. In the extreme Northern
States, where the season is too shor. and
cool for it TO ripen in the open air, the cul-
tivator must necessarially obtain his seed
from regions further south. If it were i'm
portant for him to raise his own seed, he
could start the plants under glass, in the
spring, and remove them to the field or
garden at about the period of planting In
dian corn, after which they would fully ma
ture. One quart of seeds are found to be
sufficient quantity for planting an acre.
If the soil be Indifferent or poor, they
may be sown in rows or drills about feet
apart, with the plants from 1s to II inches
asunder; but if the soil be rich, they may
be planted in hills, five or more seeds to
each, 4 or feet apart in one direction and
or A in the other. The plants may be
worked or hoed twice in the course Of the
season, in a similar manner to Indian corn.
Any suckers or supuriuous shoots, which
may spring up, may be removed. The
seed should not be harvested before it ac-
quires a dark or black hue. Should the
plants lodge, or fall to the ground, by the
excessive weight of the heads during storms
of wind or rain, before the seed natures
they may remain for weeks without injury.
In collecting the seed, convenient method
is to cut off the stalks about foot below
the panicles, tie them up in punches Of
twenty-five, and suspend them in airy Sc
cure, airy place, sheltered from rain. Il
intended solely for fodder, the first crop
should be cut just before the panicles would
appear, and the second, as soon as the seed
arrives at the milky stage. 1t may be tied
| up in bundles, shocked and cured, like the
tops or stalks of Indian corn. If not in
tended to be employed for any other econo-
mical uss, after the seed has been removed,
and the weather be cool, and the average
temperature of the day does not exceed
As or so deg. f., the stalk may be cut up
close to the ground, tied in bundles, collect
ed in shocks, or slowed in mass in a sue
culent state, for fodder in shed, or barns,
where they will keep without injury, if de-
sired, until spring. In this condition, how
ever, the lower parts of the stalks will be
found to be quite hard and woody, and will
require to be chopped into small pieces for
feeding.
Observation-Disclosures care should be
preserved not to cultivate this plant in the
ricity of Dourah corn, Guinea corn, nor
broom corn, asit hybridises or mixes freely
with those plants, which would render the
seeds af the product unfit for sowing. =
Yours, very respectfully,
CHARLES MASON,
Commissioner.