Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-02-26

ing, received from the Patent office, for the
Of these who arc about to expert
mcnt with tho Chinese Sugar Cane Seed. l
have promised all haze to different Farmers
in this neighborhood, and have had many APP
plications for more; next Spring l hope to
have large quantity to distribute.
WILLIAM CANBY.
Sc BY mail send you parcel of Chinese
Sugar Cane Seed, raised under the direct SUI
pervision of this office, with the view of ex.
tending the culturcof this plant in your State
Youwill oblige my by putting it into such hands
for cultivation, as will he likely to keep the
seed pure, and unmixed with other plants, and
return you one half of the product for subse
quent distribution. l think it would be prop,
er to obtain a written obligation from each O.
the parties thus receiving the seeds"
Description AND HABIT OF GROWTH
The Chinese sugar-cane, when cultivated OF
ordinary land, in the United States, somewhat
after the manner Of broom-corn, grows to
height Of from to IL feet, while in Europe /
does not attain much more than half of this al
titude. Its stems are straight and smooth, Of
ten covered with white bloom, or down, hay
ing leaves flexuous, falling over and greatb
resembling in appearance those of Indian corn
but more elegant in form. When cultivated
in hills, containing eight or ten stalks each, i
puts forth at its top conical panicle Of densl
flowers, green at first, but changing into yiolet
shades, and finally into dark purple, at maturi
ty. In France and the central and northern
sections Of the United States, it has thus fit
proved an annual; but from observations mad,
by NJ. Yilmornin, as well as some experiment,
in orr Southern Statos, it is conectured tina,
from the yigor and fulness of the lower partleI
the stalks, in autumn, by protecting them dp-
ing the winter, they would produce new pIatls
the following Spring. 1t stands drougttlhr
better than Indian and will rauiSt
effects Of considerable frost without iniury,af
te + the panicles appear, but not in its younger
and more tender state. If suffered to remln
in the field after the seeds have ripened md
have been removed, where the season in sui.
ciently warm and long, new panicles will sl,Ot
out at the topmost joints, one or more to each
stalk, and mature second crop of seeds. The
average yield to each panicle is at least a ell.
CrLTWArIoS.-Since its Introduction inc
this country, the Chinese sugar-cane has proved
itself well adapted to our geographical range q
Indian corn. 1t is OF easy cultivation, being
similar to that ofmaize OF broon-cor but will
prosper in much poorer soil. 1t does moi
| succeed So well, however, when snwn broad
cast with the view of producing fodder, as II
will not grow to much more than one half OF
its usual height. If the seeds are planted in
May, in the Middle States, or still earlier at the
South, two crops of fodder can be grown in a
aNhnoh NUN TDOlS-Illb HTSl Dut III
juno or July, to be cut before the paniclos APP
pear, which would be green and succulent,
like young Indian corn-and the other month
or TWO later, at the time, or before the seed is
lully matnred. In the extreme Northern States
where the season is too short and cool for 1t
to ripen in the open air, the cultivator will me-
c0ssarily have to obtain his seed from regions
further south. II it were important for himto
raise his own seed, he could start the plants
under glass, and remove them to the field or
garden at about the period of planting Indian
corn, after which they would fully mature.--
One quart of seeds arc found to be sufficient
for an acre. If the soil be indifferent or poor,
they may he sown in rows or drills about 3 feet
apart, with the plants from 10 to II inches as
under; but if the soil be rich, they may be
planted in hills, five or more seeds to each, 4
or feet apart in ono direction, and or in
the other. The plants may be worked or hoed
twice in the course of the season, in simihr
manner to Indian corn. Any suckers or sl-
pcriln0ns shoots, which may spring up may be
removed. The soed should not BIO harvested
before it acquires dark or black hue. Should
the plants lodge, or fall to the ground, by the
excessive weight Of the heads, during storms
OF wind or rain, before the seed natures, they
may remain weeks without injury. In collect
ing the seed, a convenient method is to cut off
the stalks about foot below the pancles tie
them up III punches Of twenty-five, and sus-
pend them in any secure, airy place, sheltered
from rain. II intended solely for fodder, the
first crop should be cut just before the panicles
would appear and the second, us soon as the
seed arrives at the milky stage. 1t may be tied
up in bundles, shocked and cured, like the
tops or stalks Of Indian corn. If not intended
TO be- employed for any other economical use.
after the seed has been removed, and the
weather he cool, and the average temperature
of the day does not exceed IS deg. or 80 deR
H., the stalks may be cut up close to TIN
ground, tied in bundles, collected into shocks,
or slowed in a mass in Il suculent state, for fod-
der i'll sheds or barns, where they will keep
without injury, if desired, until spring. In this
condition, however, the lower parts Of the
stalks will be found to be quite hard and woody,
and will require to he chopped into small
pieces for feeding.
Observation-Disclosures care should be OBJ
served not to cultivate this plant in the vicinity
OF Dourah corn, Guinea corn, nor broom corn,
as it hybridises or mixes freely with those
plants, which would render the seods of the
product unfit for sowing.
Yours, very respectfully,
CHARLES MASON, Commissioned
Coal AsHEs.-We are told that common coal
ashes contains about SiXty-five cents worth oil