Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-04-17
The Chfnese Sugar Cane-How Il succeeds In
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Ths Chinsse Sugar Cane-How ID succeeds In
Geo. w. Kendall, of the New Or
leans Picayune, gives the following
account Of his success in growing the
new cane on his plantation h Texas
For the last six months have
hardly opened paper, whether de-
voted to agriculture, politics, religion,
sporting affairs, or what not, without
seeing some notice of the Sorgho Su-
ere, or Chinese sugar cane. Why
have / not perfect right to add my
experience TO the general stock of in
formation in relation to the cultiva-
ton Of this new grain, or plant, or
whatever it may be termed? To be-
gin. then: Tn October, 1855, pur-
chased in Paris small paper of seed.
I do not think there was more than
two heaping tablespoonful 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, it was just peering above
the ground. two rows Of it in a ten
acre field, which had been devoted in
main, to milIet, oats and little Indi-
an corn, and four short rows in the
garden; the latter planted last
About the 9Th of July the two rows
in the larger field had shot up, head
cd out, and ripened, notwithstanding
the drought and heavy heads were cut
for seed. The oats meanwhile had
come up, the millet was hardly above
the ground, while the Indian corn was
parchcd and drying up for want Of
rain. Two or three mornings after
wards on looking at the field from a
hill close by, noticed that the two
rows of Sorgho Sucre had entirely
disappeared, while rows Of Indian
corn on either side were still stand
ing. On close examination, ascer-
tanned that lot of hogs-hogs are
apt to do such things-had broken
into the field, and devoured the Chi
nese sugar cane, root and branch it
was cut clean to the ground by the
porkers, not sign or vistage was left,
while, as already stated, the STALKS of
the Indian corn on either side were
left standing. / was thankful / had
saved the seed, and thought little
more of it.
Some few days after this--perhaps
a fortnight-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,
I found it to be exceedingly heavy,
and on tasting the cane, it seemed TO
me to be % full Of saccharine juice rs
the ordinary cane of Louisiana. At
the same time / had two or three i'm
ported French merino sheep in my
yard, in great want of green fodder,
and on cutting the cane into small
pieces 1 found that they devourcd it
with tho greatest avidity After this
/ fed them daily on il for some time, a
single stalk furnishing a good bait
| also gave some of it to favorite
mare, she eating il even more groedily
than the sheep. Some three weeks
after the ripe heads Of seed were cut
noticed that new heads had shot up
from tho same stalk; and these new
heads blossomed, filed and ripened
In September, and were cut and
brought TO the house. All this time
you must recollect we were suffering
from Unprecedented drought, and In
dian corn and sweet potatoes, water
melons, pumpkins, and the like, had
died down to tho very ground.
at now became moro interested In
tho Sorgho Sucrc than over, and al
though still fod out daily 70 the hogs
and mare, left portion Of tho stalks
standing. Soon new heads were seen
shooting out, and these in turn bios
somcd and ripened "a did the first.
/ kept no account Of dates but think
this third crop Of seed from the same
stalk, II so may call Il, was gather
cd about the first Of October II mlght
have been during tho second week OF
that month. | planted some Of this
last seed, by way Of experiment Il
came up rapidly, looked thrifty, grew
until twas nearly kncc high, and was
finally cut down by frost In Novem-
Der. A great number Of shoots or
suckers, which had sprung up from
tho stalks first planted, were cut down
al tho same time; tho Sorgho Sucrc
can stand any kind Of q drought, but
tho first sharp frost cuts II 10 the
ground. And what amount OF seed
do you think gathered from tho lie.
tic paper purchased In Paris p
Nearly, If not quito, two bushelsl-
And had not tho hogs broke into the
field, | believe should have had
three. II certainly yields inthe most
miraculous manner; beats everything
for dry weather.
OF It's properties for the production
Of sugar can say nothing; | only
know that Il tastes like common sugar
cane, and Is full Of juice about the
time tho first heads rlpen. AS greer
fodder II also beats everything which
grows; horses, sheep and hogs ar,
certainly inordinately fond Of Il, anc
so full arc tho stalks Of saccharins
matter, that they must be both nutri
tious and fattening. / cannot say
what kind Of bread or cakes tho seec
will afford, nor can | tell what kline
Of dry fodder the plant will max,
whom cut green; these experiments
have yet 10 try, and now that hav,
tho seed l intend 10 do II on o Crane
scale. shall plant II In rows, Of
drills, shall sow ii and shall cut II o.
different stages TO try les qualities a,
a dry fodder. Let mo repeat over ant
over again, that II stands a drough
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