Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-10-08
For the Delaware Renublican.

10. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY," s--Dear Sif-As
he public mind appears to be, good deal
Interested in the success OF the Sorgno, or Chi
nese Sugar Cane, as syrup and sugar plant, q
submit some account OF an experiment by '
myself, directed to the production of syrup.
did not attempt the production of sugar, Z
though have no doubt, Judging from the
abundance of sacchaiine matter in the plant, !
that this will be accomplished, and that chem
ical science will very soon reveal the process.
Indeed, DR.. Lee, Of Washington City, q scien-
tiHc gentleman OF high attachments, reports
through the Southern CultiTator, published at
Augusta, Ga, OF which he is one of the con-
ductors, that in arecent experiment at Angus
ia, he was successful IN his first attempt In
producing sugar of good quality.
Whether 1t proves successful as a sugar pro-
ducng plant or not, the experiments recorded
By others and that made by yourself, rs well
us my own trial, satisfy me beyond a doubt,
that it will greatly cheaper the price of sugar.
For many purposes and In many families, it Is
likely to superscedo the use of sugar in great
degree and Its cultivation is likely to become
greatly extended, ii not on a large scale,
yet in small way by farmers generally, for |
home or family consumption. Doubtless works
will be erected for its manufacture on sufil- |
ciently large scale to accommodate neighbor-
hoods, embracing as large circnit as 1t will
be convenient or economical to haul the cane, |
where II will be manufactured on shares-the |
farmer delivering the cane stripped and top |
ped, ready for grinding, and the mill convert
ing it into syrup-or sugar. If that shall be
found practicable. At least, suck it appears
to me would prove the more economical plant
far more SO than Tor each farmer to erect works
of his own, at however small cost. Indeed,
have it under consideration, IL the product
shall be approved of, to erect works next
season for the purpose, and Of the character
above indicated.
| Syrup and sugar have been manufactured
in a small way Tor family use for long peri
cd In the more southern Atlantic States,
| from the common sugar cane, though not pro-
duced for market to any extent as in Louisl-
ana, &c. l have been in the way of observ-
ing, and indeed employing the simple machin-
cry. fixtures, and processes, adopted for the
production of syrup and sugar in this small
way in Georgia, for several years.
In my experiment here have used the same
mill, pans, &C., which have for long period
been in use there in connection with the COM
mon sugar cane; each planter producing The
sugar cane having small works of his own.
| The plantations being generally large, and
| neighbors remctelfrom each other, have doubt
less prevented the adoption of mills and works
on IL large scale for the accommodation of
several producers.
The mill have erected mere Tor crushing the
cane was ordered in Savannah, Ga; is Of iron,
and OF the common pattern in use there. The
rollers are 10 inches in diameter, and Ia
inches in length. They are two in number,
and their position vertical they are cast with
teeth or cogs on their upper ends which work
into each other, and communicate the motion
of one roller to the other. The rollers are pro-
yided with three inch wrought iron journals,
with suitable boxes, and set-screws to bring
the rollers in connection. A wooden frame
consisting of two posts planted firmly in the
ground, with z cross pieces to which the mill is
bolted, and crooked lever or sweep secured to
the spindle of one of the rollers, which extends
above the wooden frame Of the mill, with tub
or vat to collect the juice, complete the fixtures
for grinding. An addition of a sheet of zinc
TO form pan beneath the mill to collect and
conduct the juice into-the vat, is very useful.
One strong horse attached to the lever or sweep
will exert as much power us mill of this de-
scription is capable of resisting though, to
, make the work light, two horses or mules
should be used.
Two hands in the cane patch will cut Ga small,
shorthandled, sharp hoe to be used by ono hand
Is the best implement for cutting the cane, top
and strip off the blades, while boy with a
horse and cart will haul the to the mill, II
1t be conVenint TO it. Stripping the blades
from the canes occupies some little time. This
operation may be dispensed with, but it never
should he II 1t can be avoided as the blades,
which make excellent fodder, will be lost, and
will also occasion some loss of juice, witch will
adhere to them as the crushed canes come from
the mill. The fodder not only pays for strip.
ping, but something at least towards cutting
and topping the cane. Cattle and horses arr
sa r. ta9a t deeSn STer
v. fourth of an acre, and have cut and grount
in all but the fraction over, which is still standing
'lf to mature its seed for next years planting
70 though l am somewhat concered that som
a broom-coIn planted about one hundred yard
e. distant, will by mixing injure the quality ofth
TO seed. have kept no very accurate accoun
% of the cured fodder, but there is at least 50t
- pounds, worth at the rate of SIS per acre.
g Farther south the rattoons will form Yaluab
Of forage crop, but here the season is not suftl
"a ciently long to produce this after-crop.
he fhe canes being laid down at the mill, tn
feeder takes cane and doubles it in the mid
die, and presents the doubled end to the roll
ers, which readily draw it in. He continues L
feed the canes to the mill as often as there
room for another Gane-three or four doubled
canes passing through the mill at u time. Thi
mill will grind 400 canes an hour, or say 90
10 day conveniently, or 5000 if pushed. Thes
IS 1000 canes will make 90 gallons OF syrup.
C good cane will yield pint Of juice. The mi
should stand about four feet from the ground
n so that the crushed canes may not readily az
eumuate behind the mill so as TO be in III
# way.
is The kettles or pans use ara OF cast irol
10 which have long been manufactured for tn
~ purpose lIOF tue southern marKet) Dy saver
I, X Co., near the navy yard, Philadelphia.
in have three kettles, one "a inch, one 80 incl
- and one Sc holding respectively "a, 40, an
re 20 gallons. These will turn out 25 gallons
~ syrrp per day--or are equal to only half Ii
I'd capacity OF the mill. The addition of or
Of AZ inch kettle would nearly keep pace with Il
ny mill, and thus turn out SO gals. OF syrup da
The three kettles cost $50. Tho mill cost So
10 was manufactured by A W. Miller, of Saval
d. nah, Ga. Doubtless they will be made her
no and at a cheaper rate, as soon as there is d
ny mand. The same concern turns out mills sui
Ut able for an extended business of this kind wi
ds three rollers, horizontal, intended to he driv'
II, by steam, at believe $500.
d, The kettles are set in line, the furnac 3
or one end under tho largest kettle, and I
= smoke and heated air after passing under t
MS other two, escape by the chimney which stan
near the last or smallest kettle, called the b.
terry. The kettles are set in brick work, I
top of which (and the kettles) Is q feet ire
the ground. The furnace is arranged for wDo
coal would be much cheaper here. The CT
~ of wood, at 81 per cord, was about cents ?
~ gallon. i found that the juice from the N
"a should be reduced to about 4 of its volume
~ make syrup OF suitable consistency. The, iui
,n being placed in the larger kettle, IL, reduc
NV. to about half of its volume, and then pa So
~ d to the second and finally to the. third, or b
M terry, where it is finished. As The larger ket
~ Is emptied, other juice fro1l tho mill is put
and thus the kettles are all kept at VOL
ion Fresh juice should not be mixed with Il
von partly reduced until it has been brought t
hall boll,and tne first heavy scum removed. A la
of hQlHing about five quarts, and u SKINNER abb
i'm. one foot In diameter with holes say OF
inch in dismeter) each with sockets for wooC
D handles, which should be three to four {