Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-09
CIRCULAR.
UNITED srA7ks PATENT OFFICE,
December 10, 1856.
CHINESE SUGAR-CANE.

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SlR:-This new plantseems to
be destined to take an important
position among our economical
products. It's seeds were sent,
some six years ago, from the
north Of China, by M. de Mon
tigny, to the Geographical Socie-
Of Paris. From a cursory exam
nation ola small field oft, grow
ing at Verrierds, in France, in
the autumn Of 1854, Mr.. d. J.
Browne, then on a mission from
this Office for agricultural inform
alton and products, was led to in
fer, that, from the popularity Of
the climate in which it was grow
ing, and its resemblance in appea-
rance and habit to Indian corn, it
would flourish in any region wher-
ever that plant would thrive
From this source, he obtained
some 200 lbs. Of the seed, which
vas distributed in small packages
by this Office, among the MEM
bers of Congress, with the view
Of experimenting with it in all
parts Of the Union, and thereby
ascertaining its adoption to our
soil and climate. In numerous
instances, the results proved high
ly satisfactory, as it attained the
hight Of eight or ten feet, as far
north asst. Pauls, Minnesota, and
matured its seeds at variouspoints
in Massachusetts,, New York,
Pennsylvania, Illinois, and other
places further south. The follow
ing year, while in France, on a
similar mission as the above, Mr..
Browne obtained several bushels
Of tho seed Of this plant, grown
from that reputed to have come
FROM South Africa, by Mr.. Leon
ard Wray, Of London, and which
has since proved to be identical
with that obtained by this Office
in 1854.
There appears to be a doubt
among many in Europe, as well
as in this county, as to the true
botanical name Of this plant
M. Louis Vilmorn, a scientific
cultivater, Of Paris, Professionally
gave it the name Of HoLcUs Sac
eHARArus, which had previously
beenapplied to thec common broom
corn, If not to other species, or at
least varieties, Of some allied
plant. He also conjectured that
it might be the SORGHUM vULaARE,
(Andropogon sorghum Of others,)
and thought that it might COM
prehend a variety Of it, as well rs
Andropogon cara, bicolor, ETC.,
Of Kunith. 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 Natal and
other places, states that, in the
southeast part Of Caflraria, there
are at least fifteen different varie-
ties Of it, some Of them growing
to the height Of II or 10 feet.
With stems as thick as those Of
the sugar-cane (Saccharum offici-
narum). M. Vilmornin, also, says
that, in a collection Of seeds sent
to the Museum of Natural Histo-
rp at Paris, in 1910, by M. d'A-
babe, there we're thirty kinds Of
sorghum, among the growth Of
which be particularly recognised
several plants having stems Of
q saccharine flavor. Others are
Of the opinion that the common
broom-corn (Holcus saccharatus),
the chocolate VI Guinea corn,
(SOrghWm Uulgarc) and the
Chinese sugar-cane. (NOrghun,
sacchGraf,sm,) all Of which, con-
tanning more or less saccharine
matter, belong to the same spe-
cies, but are variations caused by
differences Of soil and climate, OF
by disposition to sport, after the
manner Of Indian corn and other
plants under cultivation, The
Chinese sugar-cane, however, die
fars from others, in containing Q
Car larger proportion Of juice, and
consequently is more valuable fol
fodder and other economical uses
In 1766, a plant analogous te
the one in question, was expert,
mented upon at + lorenzo, in TIA,
~, by Pietro Arduino, for the ex
traction Of sugar; yet it must
have been Of a different variety
as be describes its seeds as Of {
clear brown color, while those O
the Chinese sugar-cdhe are Of
shining jet-bIack, and in appear
ance identical with those Of th'
Sorghum vulgare, Of the old col
lections.
DESCRIPTION AND HABIT OF GROWTH
The Chinese sugar-cane, whel
cultivated on ordinary land, il
the Uuited States, somewhat al
tar the manner Of broom-corn