Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1857-12-31
horticultural.


space Of this Index number to subject
which has been one of great interest to
the country during the nearly closing
year. and one in which we have taken
20 active part. Hereafter, this plant
will take its place among other cult
waited crops, and require bat compare
lively limited degree of attention in
these pages.
RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS.
We have prepared table at no little
expense Of time and labor, showing at
a glance the result of some SIXTY expe-
riments upon the Sugar Cane, made IN
different States, and with variety of
treatment, soils, climate, dc. Follow
ing the table are interesting and valua-
bic condensed extracts from adom-
panying letters. These have been Ia
ken at random from a vast accumulation
Of reports that have literally loaded
down our tables during the last few
weeks. We have not made any selec
ton of the letters copied from, with
reference to presenting favorable or
unfavorable view of the matter, but
havetaken them up just as they CHANGED
10 be laid away at the time of reception.
We therefore think a careful perusal of
the tabulated reports. and the remarks
following will furnish fair view of the
general experience ofthe whole country,
and Of the present opinion Of those who
have devoted some attention to expert
menting with thc.new plant
\ careful study of these reports will,
we think, lead to the following conclu-
sions:
/. The Chinese Sugar Cane will
flourish well wherever Indian corn will
grow; it endures cold better than corn,
but will not ripen its seeds in cold sea-
son like the past, further north than
about the latitude of 40 degrees to Al
degrees.
2. Under favorable circumstances,
and in good seasons, it may ripcn Its
seed as far north as 43 deg to Al deg
See report No. 53.
3. 1t promises to be superior to In
dian corn for soiling feeding green) in
any locality where corn is now cultiva-
ted, and entirely aside from its value
as saccharine plant, it will be an ac-
QUESTION to our forage crops.
4. 1t will produce good syrup from
the immature canes, and this may be
done in ordinary seasons as far north as
As deg. ana even in colder ATTITUDES.
). The best syrup is made from tho
ripe or nearly ripened canes.
6. Unlike the Southern Sugar Cane
Its saccharine properties are not mate
rally injured at once by moderate
frost.
:. The trials so far, do not show tha
sugar can be readily made, but limited
experiments seem to indicate that thu
will vet be the case.
g. If it should finally be found i'm
possible to, make crystalized sugar
still an excellent syrup can be proiitabl,
extracted from its juices.
Q. The most profitable results vii
be obtained where the culture and man
ufacture is carried OH upon an EXTENSIVE
scale.
10. The manufacture of syrup is n
easy and simple as ordinary maple su
gar making.
Ii. Unless swcctcning OF al
kinds shall be produced much NOR
abundantly at the South, and sold a
the North much cheaper than the ave
rage prices of the past year or two, TIA
culture of the Chinese Sugar Cane Wi
prove highly remuncrative in the Mid
die and Northern States.
II. In all localities remote Iron
easy access TO market. the Chinese ~
car Cane will furnish swectening, f.
ordinary purposes. cheaper than 1T ca
he obtained from abroad. This is pei
haps the most important feature cor
nected with this plant. There al
thousands Of inland towns, especial
Mt the West and on the Pacific Coas
where. owing to expensive wagon trans
portation, sugar and molasses mus
double or treble the sea-board prices
At all those points, the inhabitants ca
grow their sugar cane, and make the
own syrup. cheaper than they can in
port il from abroad.
Il. While seed may not Ice ripper
ed in the northern tier Of States and Ill
Canadas. except in very favorabl
years. this point is of no practical in
portanee, since the small amount r,
quired--not more than a quart or tw
10 the acre-will render it an easy ma
ter TO get an annual supply from II
Southern and South Middle State
where il will always mature.
Ii. The cultivation, both for f.,
and for syrup making. may be entire