The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-09-16
s9fpartment
From the Baltimore Sun OF August 21.l
THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE.


or millet, as it is indifferently termed
It is at this time of year in full develop
meut, and specimens we have seen ex
hibit q rare l%uxuriance which in tn,
prospect of the production of a reason
able proportion of sugar and moIasses
gives us the promise of a new and incon
ceivable source of the essential "sweet
ness of domestic life" A sugar opera
tor upon a little eminence, overlooking
a broad growth of it, lifting its jocunC
tops sixteen or twenty feet into the air
and tossing them about in triumphaut
anticipation of the market, would stant
appalled,, Of such a man the prophetic
Shakespeare has already said
H'Thou hast no SPECULATION in these eyes
Which thou dost glare with"
Forsooth, if this novel experiment
should prove a success in the direction
to which it points, VIC shall soon be able
to establish the practical notion of "ev.
cry man his own sugar planter" Il
threatens a total revolution in saccharine
affairs. And there will not remain a
doubt but every farmer will raise all the
sugar and molasses required for his OWE
domestic use. As an article of fodder
it is universally approved, and is given to
stock with singular advantage, strength
enipg and fattening it. 1t is by no
means delicate in structure nor ~fastidious
as to climate. We hear a good report
of it from the broad prairies of the
West, and the more modest fields of
Massachusetts,. Still it is yet but an
The ensuing autumn will
possibly, and we hope, establish its sue
cess.
Just now the most interesting inquiry
of those who have grown but little, is
to know what to do with it-or, rather
how to get the molassss and sugar out of
the cane. The sugar question, from the
best of Information at hand, we are in
elined to think had better be left for the
present to the suitable apparatus of the
business for a decisive test. That the
syrup graduates is asserted by several
sxperimentalists; and it is also stated
that rhombohedric crystals have been
detected by low microscopic power
From some quarters we have the conf
dent expectation declared that under
treatment an excellent sugar ill
certainly be obtained.
We have before US experiments ard
.esults by small growers during the last
season. from which we select a few pa s.
lges by way of suggestion to those who
rave the article afeld. Mr.. John L..
of Washington, Illinois, writes
IS follows:
~"I planted early in May n square
of ground the cane grew about ten
'eet high. 1 cut it in October, before
my ~frosts; about two-thirds of the seed
vas ripe when cut. Igrouud it immedi-
Itely after cutting in an old cylinder
'ider mill, and I ground only a part of
he cant I had, in consequence of break
the mill. Did not measure the juice
T got; boiled it in a common kettle; the
yrup foamed in boiling, like maple syrup.
clarified it with a little lime. Know
ng nothing about cane sugar, 1 managed
just as 1 would maple sugar, and tried
o make it ~granulate by stirring it, as I
lsed to do with maple, but, I could not
make it granulate by that process, and
ct it away. In about six or eight days
looked at, and found it a very hand
ONE article of well granulated sugar
The syrup was pronounced by all who
asted it to be good-equal to any We
ct from the South.
A sample of molasses from the Chinese
ugar cane was presented at the Ameri-
Institute Farmers Club of Connect
ut, from Mr.. Haley, of Groton Center
Ionn., who made it. He accompanies
/ with the following:
"About the 18th of September, when
he seeds are not entirely ripe, l Fearing
rost) cut two-thirds OF the lot, removed
he seeds and crushed in an old cider
,ill with its upright corrugated wooden
and from this imperfect process
have obtained Eve gallons of juice,
'hich 1 e%vaporated to one gallon in an
,on pot. The molasses L found equal
be first quality New Orleans, we'll
with sugar granules. 1t is of
flavor, and cooks white.
'tThe remainder of the cane stood
bout twenty days longer, during which
ime it had experienced a severe froet,
ut with no visible injury. The seed
ad become fully ripe. L cut and pro-
eeded as before obtaining about the same
Proportional quantity of molasses, but
f better quality, which may have been
wing to more careful mempulation.
"This trial gives a result of about
hreo hundred gallons per acre of first
uality molasses-I saved seed to plant
all an acre this year. Half ofmy seed
been distributed among my friends,
nd now having faith in the experiment
shall take more care. I planted too
hick. I snail try some seeds in the
orcipg bed and transplant. I shall plant