The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-18
rn,srar SuGAE CAGE.-~G. w

/ Chinese stoar cane, which at this time co'.i'
nands SO much attention. For the last SIX
months / have hardly opened paper, whether
devoted to agriculture, politics, religion sport
ING affairs, or what not, without seeing som.
notice Of the Sorgho sucre, or Chinese susa,
cane; why have not perfect right 20 auu
nv experience to the general stock OF in.ofna
ton in relation to the cultivation OF THIS ne"
Grain or plant, or whatever it may be termed
To begin, then: In October, 1855, purchas
ed in Paris small paper OF the seed ds
not think there was more than two heaplng Ia
bIe-spoonsful of it, or three at the outside.
brought it with me to New Orleans. and on ar
irving sent it here to be planted. When
reached this place, early in May last, 1t was
Just peering above the ground, two rows OF itiI
a ten acre field, which had been devoted IN the
main 20 miet, oats, and a little Indian corn
and four short rows in our garden-the latter
planted last.
About the 9th of July the two rows in the
larger field had shotup, headed out, and rlpen
ed, notwithstanding the drought. and the heavy
heads were cut for seed The oats meanwhile
had not come up, the millet was hardly above
ground, while the Indian corn was parched and
driving up for want of rain. Two or three
mornings afterwards. on looking at the field
| from bill close by, noticed that the two rows
of Sorgho sucre had entirely disappeared,
while rows Of Indian corn on either side were
still standing. On close examination, ascer,
tanned that a lot of hogs--hogs are apt to dc
such things-had broken into the field, and de-
voured the Chinese sugar cane root and branch;
it was cut clean to the ground by the porkers,
nota sign or vestige was left, while, as already
stated, the stalks Of the common Indian corn
on either side were left standing. l was very
thankful [ had saved the seed, and thought
little more of it,
Some few days after this--perhaps fort
night-the rows planted in the garden were
examined, the heads of seed found to be ripe,
and the greater portion cut and brought to the
house, leaving the tall stalks still standing On
cutting down one of the latter, which must have
been ten feet high, l foundi to be exceeding
ly heavy, and on tasting the cane It seemed to
me to be as full of saccharine juice as the or
binary sugar cane of Louisiana. At the same
time had two or three imported French meri-
no sheep in my yard, in great want Of green
fodder, and on cutting the cane into small pieces
| found that they devoured it with the great
est avidity. After this fed them daily on it
for some time, a single stalk furnishing good
bait. also gave some of it to a favorlte mare,
she eating it even more greedily than the sheep.
Some three weeks after the ripe heads Of
seed were cut | noticed that new heads had
shot up from the same stalk; and these new
heads blossomed, filled, and ripened in Sep
tember, and were cut and brought to the house
All this time you must recolect we were suf-
fering from the unprecedented drought and In
dian corn and sweet potatoes, watermelons,
pumpkins, and the like, had died down to the
very ground.
l now became more interested in the Sorgho
sucre than ever, and although still fed out
daily to the merinos and mare, left portion
of the stalks standing. Soon new heads were
seen shooting out, and these in turn blossomed
and ripened as did the first [ kept no account
of dates, but think this third crop of seed from
the same stalk. if so | may call it, was gather
ed about the first of October; it might have
been during the second week of that month. I
planted some of this last seed, by way of ex
pertinent; it came up rapidly, looked thrifty,
grew until it was nearly knee high, and was
finally cut down by frost in November. A great
number of shoots or suckers, which had sprung
up from the stalks first planted, were cut down
at the sametlme; the Sorgho sucrc can stand
any kind of drought, but the first sharp frost
kills it to the ground.
And what amount of seed do you think I
gathered from the little paper l purchased in
Paris? Nearly, if not quite two bushels! and
had not the hogs broke into the field, believe
| should have had three. 1t certainly yields
in the most miraculous manner; beats every
thing for dry weather
Of its properties for the production of sugar
| can say nothing; only know that it tastes
like the common sugar cane and is full of Juice
about the time the first heads ripen. AS
green fodder it also beats every thing which
grows; horses, sheep and hogs are certainly
nordlnately fond of it, and so full are the stalks
OF sacchar'ne matter, that they must be both |
nutritious and fattening. 1 cannot say what
kind of bread or cakes the seed will afford, nor
can tell what kind of dry fodder the plant will
make when cut green; these experiments |
have yet to try, and now that have the seed |
intend to do it on a grand scale. shall plant
t in rows, or drills, shall SOW it and shall cut
t at different stages otry its qualities as dry
odder. Let me repeat over and over again,
hat it stands drought better than anything
We have--does not seem to require rain after
t is once up. Yours, &c. G.w,K.
THE F1L1BUsTER CAsE-U. S. commission
n Morrell gave his decision on the 2lst ult..
IN the motion to dismiss the complaint against
Messrs Fabens and Boulton, under arrest for
'io|ating the neutrality laws in procuring re-
fruits, ETC., for Nicaragua
After reciting the facts of the case. as they
we're given in evidence on the examination, Mr.
Morrell said he thought the offence with which
he accused were charged was in violation of
he laws of nations, which were recognised by
he government of the United States Nicara-
qua was sovereign State. She has been af-
lictad with informal dissensio hui La. -.