Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-10-09
lFotlLs ohronlsle.

Mr.. ED1ToR;- Knowing that you, tho
an old gentleman, are not an "old fogy,"
and consequently would like to be "posted"
as to the practical success attending any
or allof the productions of this east age"
whether chemical, mechanical, agricultu-
raj or what not, have, therefore, con-
cluded to give you, forthe benefit of your
self and your numerous readers, the. result
of my experiments with the Chinese Su-
gar cane, or "impechec" as the Lousianan
calls it,
Well, by way of an experiment, I plan
ted about one-third of an acre on the 18Th
Of May last in rows four feet apart, and
Is inches in the drill, one seed (only) in
a hill, or every Is inches, or thereabouts.
Each seed produced from one to thirty
eightstO or canes. I say 3S, because l
planted one seed from which 1 cut 38well-
grown and perfect canes.
On the 18th Of September, l selected SO
canes (average) from which with little
hand-mill, consisting of two wooden roll
lers inches in diameter and II inches in
length, "fxed" up after the fashion of a
grind stone, with a couple of wedges to
close the rollers or open them, in fact made
on the same principle of the old cotton
gin, extracted three gallons Of juice
which, after boiling down to the proper
consistency, yielded three pints of thick
syrup, with slightly greenish tast which
latter, am now satisfied was owing to the
canes being too green. The cane should
assume a slightly golden appearance be-
fore it is ready for the mill.
have since, on the I'd and Sd of this
month, manufactured sixteen gallons OF
BEAUTIFUL syrup equal, l think, in favor, il
not superior to the best Golden Syrup
Of New Orleans. BY way of ascertaining
the largest amount Of juice contained in a
single cane, l selected an average cane
and run it through the mill three times
from which was extracted onequart ofjuice
As general thing, only had them run
through the mill twice; the invariable re.
suit was one gallon from every 16 average
canes. My canes are all from twelve to
twenty feet in height, the "dirt, however
! is rather above the medium, in point 3
fertility From some, experiments made
with the fodder, I am satisfied it viii yield
from one thousand to twelve hundred lbs
of good "sheep and horse feed" per acre
After carefully measuring the seed from
twenty good canes, find it will average
half pint to the cane or seed head; at this
ratio one acre of ground planted in hills
81 feet each way, with three stocks to the
hill will yield 81 bushels of seed per acre
l think it will average ON good land, with
good season, fifty bushels of seed pei
acre, as moderate calculation. L think the
seed will prove an excellent food for chick.
ems and other domestic fowls, as my Bra.
mas will leave everything else to luxuriate
on these seed l find also, that mule ha
decided preference of the green cane and
will masticate it from one end to the Other
in short order. 1 believe the pressed canes
will make good vinegar. send you
specimen bottle of the syrup which you
can discuss at your table, and give those
of your readers who have never been SC
fortunate as to be in tasting distance,
description of its taste, color, consistency
&c.
l can, with 4 hands, and this mill, where
the canes are gathered already press ou
fifty or sixty gallons of juice per day
What, then, could not be done with horse
power mill?
Your friend,
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