The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-01-08
Chinese Sugar Cane.

BILE which attended the Gu iylSaton of the I
Chinese Sugar Cane the past SUMMER by
the farmers of this State and Georgia.
Now we would call attention to the growth
and culture OF the plant, ex. tracted from i
Circular issued by the Commissioner of /
Patents at Washington.
Sugar and molasses ara very high, and |
Providence seems to have brought this plant
into notice at the time Of our greatest need.
Let every farmer, and every man who can
devote AN acre to the cultivation, get one
quart of seed, plant, and tend it we'll, and
he will have enough sugar and molasses
to last for year at a remarkably small
cost 1t is no humbug. 1t is a rich bless !
ing, and one that should be welcomed with
devout thaukfulness. We heve before us
"A letter from Col. w. S. Lyles, of Fairfield,
IN which he says he designs planting five
acres at least, from which he expects one
thousand gallons of syrup. But syrup and
sugar are not alone realized from the plant.
lhe fodder is greater in amount than
can be gathered from al acre of corn, while
tue increased culture each year will create
a steady demand for the seed at rom sS to
So per bushel.
We earnestly press trial of this plant
upon our farmers. Get good seed, and
cultivate properly-as though you were in
earnest-and the crop will astonish you
and dissipate al, incredulity.
We append the description and mode of
cultivation, as they come from the Commits.
sioner OF Patents:
DEsCRIPTIoN AND HABIT OF GRowru.-'
The Chinese sugarcare, when cultivated
on ordinary land, in the United States,
somewhat after the manner of broom corn.
grows TO the height of from eight TO sixteen
feet, while in Europe it does not attain
much more than half of this altitude. Its
stems are straight and smooth, often cover
ed with bloom, or down, having leaves
somewhat flexuo0 falling over and greatly
resembling in appearance those Of Indian
corn, but more elegant iu form. When
cultivated in hills, containing eight or ten
stalks in each, it puts forth at its ton n
conical panicle of dense flowers. green at
first, but changing into violet shades, aud
finally into dark purple at maturity. In
France and the central and northern sec.
iions of the United States it has thus far
proved an annual; but from Observations
made by NJ. Vilmorin, as we'll as some expert
ments in our Southern States,i is coniec.
tured that from the vigor and fulness Of
the lower part of the stalks in autumn, by
protecting them during the winter, they
would produce new plants the following
spring. 1t stands drought far better than
Indian corn, and will resist the effects of
considerable frost without injury, after the
panicIes appear but not in its younger and
more tender state. II suffered TO remain
in the field after the seedni Ave ,ipened
and have been removed, wl}Yfo the season
is sufficiently warm and ionS,stiew panicles
will shoot out at tho topmost joints, one or
more 10 each stalk, and mature second
crop of seeds. The average yield of seed
to each Panicleis at least a gill.
CULTIvATIoS.-Since its Introduction in.
to this conntry the Chinese sugar-esne has
proved itself well adapted 10 our geographi-
cal range Of Indian corn. 1t is OF easy
keuItivaIion, being similar 10 that of maize.
orab5eeiriTcorn, but will prosper in a much
poorer SOIL. Ii does not succeed so we'll.
however, when sown broadcast with the
view Of producing fodder, rs il will not
grow 10 much more than one half its usual
height. II tie seeds are planted in Nav.
an tue Middle States, o. still earlier at the
South, two crops of fodder can be grown in
season from the-sane roots--the first one
in June OF July, to be cut before the PAM
cles appear, which weuld be green and suc-
cu!ent like young lpdiau corn; and the
other a month or two later, at the time or
before the seed is fully matured. In the
extreme Northern States. where the season
Is too short and cool forit to ripen in the
open air, the cultivator rA-Yill necessarily
have TO obtain his seed fromregions further
south. If it were important for him 70 raise
his own seed, BE could start the plants un-
der glass IN the spriug and Remove theEs
to the field or garden at about the time of
planting Indian corn, after which they
would fully mature. One lquart Of seeds
are found to he sufficient ior an acre. II
the soil be indifferent or poor, they may be
sown IN rows or s-cifillS about three feet
apart, with, che plants from ten 10 twelve
inchessasunler but If the soil be rich they
mR be planted IN hills, five or more seeds
toeach, four or tive feet apart IN one ditec-
tt9h and three or four the other. The
Rf'k'ntS may be worked or hoed twice in the
LeeaSon, in a similar manner 10 Indian corn.
fAny suckers or superfuous shoots which
, fspring up may he removed The seed
4 should MOI be harvested before il acquires
dark or black hue. Should the plants
lodge or fall 10 the ground. by the extreme
weight of the elheads. during storms OF wind
Z or rain, before the seed natures. they may
remain for weeks withou, injury. In col.
Letting the seed, convenient method is to
cut of the stalks about foot below the
panicIes, tie them up in punches of twenty
five, and suspend them inRny secure airy
place, sheltered from rain. II intended