Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-02-12
u. S. PATENT OFFICE,
1Osc

!
U. S. PATENT OFFICE,
January, 1855.
Sir:-This new plant seems to be destin-
ed to take an important position among our
economical products. lis seeds were sent
some six years ago from the north of China,
by N. de Montigny, to the Geographical
Society at Paris. From a cursory examin-
alton of a small field of it, growing at Yer
rieres, in France, in the autumn of 1854,
DR.. D. J. Browne, then on a mission from
this Office, for collecting agricultural infor-
NATION and products, was led to infer, that,
from the peculiarity of the climate in which
it was growing, and its resemblance in ap-
pearance and habit to Indian corn, it would
flourish in any region wherever that plant
would thrive. From this source he obtain
ed some two hundred pounds of the seed,
which was distributed in small packages,
by this Office, among the members of Con-
gress, with the view of experimenting with
it in all parts of the Union, and thereby as
certaining its adoption to our soil and eli
mate. In numerous instances the result
proved highly satisfactory, as it attained
the height of eight or ten feet as far north
as ST. Paul. in Minnesota, and matured its
seeds at various points in Massachusetts,,
New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and 9TH
er places farther South. The following
year, while in France, on a similar mission
as above, Mr.. Browne obtained several
bushels of the seed of this plant, growing
from that reputed to have been brought
from South Africa, by Mr.. Leonard Wray,
of London, and which has since proved to
be identical with that obtained by this Of
fee in 1854.
There appears to be doubt among ma
my in Europe, as well as In this country, as
to the true botanical name of this plant
M. Louis Vilmorin, scientific cultivator Of
Paris, Professionally gave it the name Of
Hulcus Succharatuc, which had previously
been applied to the common broom corn,
if not to other species, at least varieties of
some alliedlplant. He also conjectured
that it might be Sorghum vulgare, and
thought that il might comprehend varie-
ty oft, as well as Andropogan- cafra, pico
Tor, ETC., Of Kunth. Mr.. Wray, who has
devoted much time and attention to the
cultivation of this plant, with the view of
extracting sugar from its juice, at Cape Ma
tai and other places, states that, in the
southeast part Of Caffraria, there are at
least fifteen varieties of it, some of them
growing to the height of twelve or fifteen
feet, with stems as thick as those of the SUI
gar cane (Sacch9rum officinarum.) M.
.Vilmorin, also, says that in collection of
seeds sent to the Museum of Natural Histo-
ry at Paris, in 1910, by M. de Abadie,
there were thirty kinds of sorghum, among
the growth of which he particularly recog-
uized several plants having stems of sac
charine favor. Others aresof the opinion
that the broom corn, (Hulcus sacchartus)
the chocolate of Guinea corn, Sorghum
vulgare,) and the Chinese sugar cane, (Sor-
ghum saccharatum) all ofwhich, containing
more or less saccharine matter, belong to
the same species, but are variations caused
by differences of soil and climate, or by a
disposition to sport after the manner of In
dian corn and other plants under cultivation.
The Chinese sugar cane, however, differs
from the Others, IN containing far larger
portion Of juice, and consequently is more
valuable for fodder, and other economical
uses. --.sa So - 9 -.
In 1865, plant analogous to the one
in question, was experimental upon at
Florence, Italy, by Pietro Arduino, for the
extraction Of sugar; yet it must have been
of different variety, as he describes its
seeds as off clear brown color, while those
of the Chinese sugar cane are of shining
Jet black, and in appearance identical with
those of the Sorghum vulgare, of the old
collections.
Description and Habit Of Growth.
The Chinese sugar cane when cultivated
on ordinary land, in the United States,
somewhat after the manner of broom corn,
grows to height of from three to sixteen
feet, while in Europe it does not attain
more than half this attitude. Its stems are
straight and smooth, often covered with a
white bloom, or down, having leaves some
what fexuous, falling over and greatly re-
semblng in appearance, those of Indian
corn, but more elegant in form. When cul-
tivated in hills, containing eight or ten
stalks each, it puts forth at its top conf
cal panicle of dense flowers, green at first,
but changing into violet shades, and final.
lyinto dark purple, at maturity. In France
and the central and northern sections of the
United States, it has thus far proved an
annual; but from observations made by M
vilmorin, as well as some experiments in
Southern States, it as conjectured that
from the vigor and fullness of the lower
part OF the stalks in a,1t,,rou b,r ,,rct acfinn