Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-05-16
New Sugar Producing Plants.

cane.
a variety of cane brought from Africa has
been partially tested, and it promises to extend
the cultivation of sugar far above the line to
which ii it is at present limited. From an article
on this subject, in the New York Evening
Post, we collect the following facts, which may
possess some interest for our readers.
Mr.. Wray. of Natal, South Africa, who has
had much experience in the cultivation of the
South African impkes or sugar bearing plants,
states that he had discovered, growing wild
upon the southwest coast or Caffraria, the
curious plant imphee which was in common
use amongst the natives as an article of food.
He had been so favorably impressed with its
qualities as to undertake protracted journeys 10
collect new varieties, and met with such sue
cess as to procure no less than sixteen distinct
kinds of greater or less saccharine richness
Some of the most precocious ones will coms
plete their growth in three months, while 9TH
ers require as long as four and five.
In regard to the density Of the sap, Mr..
w nay SbGLICO ~ u via "hiSI aASo OS1" HltANN
in Martinique, upon the estate of the Count de
Chazelle, the object of which was to decide
the comparative densities of the sugar-canes
from the celebrated Grand Terre districts and
Of Mr. Wray's Imphees, both of which had
been grown by the Count. The result WAS
that the latter showed a density superior to
the former by three and one-balf degrees
The sugar cane gave 7 deg. Baume, and the
T..rL,, N IN I,- This rj.bnaSa 10 Cuifn ra-
markable, for ordinary Louisiana cane does
not average higher than 7 l-2 TO 8, If we re-
member Alright, and it shows what We may IN
future expect from the introduction of this
valuable plant to the domain Of our national
agriculture.
The quantity of juice to be obtained from
the stalks was dependent upon the power of
the mill. Count de Beauregard had sixty per
cent. when his mill was an imperfect one
Under favorable circumstances as much as
seventy per cent. might be calculated upon,
and of this seventeen per cent. was crystalilzas
bic sugar. He estimated The product at three
thousand pounds, but both quantity and quality
would be controlled by the perfection or im~
perfection of processes Of manufacture. Dir,
W!ay had discovered the only successful
method of obtaining the sugar which has bern
made public. NJ. de Montigny, Count de
Beauregard aud others, had sought in vain for
it, but he had been fortunate enough to arrive
at a complete success, as was proved By the
samples Of sugar which he exhibited.
Several specimens were shown. One OF
them not purged of the molasses, because Dir.
Vray desired to prove that the syrup from
imphee possesses no unpleasant favor. 1t IS
very pleasant in favor, reminding one of maple
sugar. Another sample mad been purged: it
presented the appearance of fine clayed Havana.
The crystals are firm and sharp. and the taste
is not different from good Havana, which are
now selling in The New York market at II
and ~ cents, by the quantity.
If Mr.. Wray is not amiss in his calculations,
as to the yield per acre, or if we can but OBJ
tain one Thousand pounds, what an immense
gift to American agriculture is he about TO
make! Our rapidly waning crop of sugar IS at
once exchanged for the greatest abundance,
and a vast source of wealth is opened for our
farmers. He has already expended some
twenty thousand dollars in his experiments and
attempts to introduce it into Europe, and it is
to be hoped that his visit to our country may
prove remunerative in proportion to the lmpor-
lance Of his discovery to ourselves.
The inquiry having been made if the sap in
the stalks will sour on exposure to the air, as
is the case with Louisiana cane, and if the
cry stalizable property was injured in this man
ner.
Mr.. Wrsy stated that on one occasion he
had been absent from his estate when the canes
were ready to be harvested, and his Kafirs'
thinking he would return within day or two
had cut and stacked bis entire crop. He was
not able to return, however, until after the
expiration of a fortnight, and he then found
that about onesinch of either end ofstalks had
soured; so, without further loss of time, he had
set his men to work to remove these portions,
and when the juice from them was boiled
down, it made quite as good sugars as any
previous sample.
This new species Of plants are also said to
be valuable as fodder, the seed as food for
poultry; and, from the bagasse, even paper has
been successfully made.
Such additions to our agricultural products.
ifthey have the properties which are attributed
TO them by Mr.. Mapes, will have an influence
upon our prosperity almost beyond all calcula'
ton.
The National Hotel MyStery.-Ihe New