Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-06-10
VOL. 3.--NO. AZ.
AGRICULTURAL.

CHINESE SUGAR CAyE.-The following direc-
tions, to the choice Of ground, time and
manner of planting, cultivating, stripping, and
cutting the Chinese Sugar Cane, when il is
growing for the purpose of making Syrup of
Sugar, has been gathered from practical men,
who have had experience in the field in the
sugar growing districts of this aud other coun-
tries, by Messrs. Hodges * Free, cornor of
Main and Water streets, Cincinnati.
Choice of Groand.-Upland soil is better for
Sugar than low ground, though the latter may
be strong deep soil. 1t is supposed that the
saccharinc matter in plants is absorbed chiefly
from the atmosphere and though larger
growth of cane can be secured on low grounds
than on high, there will be more water in the
sap; and as the cost of pressing aud boiling is
considerable, it is not always desirable to pro-
duce the largest growth, but rather the rich
est juice.
Time Of Pidnfing.-The seed of the Chinese
Sorgho or Sorgho Sucre, should not be plant
ed until the ground has become warm to con-
siderable depth. II the season is backward,
as the present spring, the first TO the tenth of
June will do very well. Mr.. Whitney, of
Washington, ID. c., raised his best seed last
year from seed planted on the Sth June.
Manner Of Pianfing.-All agree that one
seed in place, eight OF ten inches apart, in
drills four feet apart, running north or south,
gives the hest growth, and renders its maturity
more certain and uniform. 1t should be borne
in mind that the Sorgho or Jmpbee stools out
wheat, i. e., one seed produces several stalks,
and it is therefore not only useless but detri-
mental to good growth of the best cane TO
plant the seed too thick. As light and air are
essential to the best growth for sugar, it is bet
ter, as a general thing, to have too few than
too many stalks, therefore no harm is done If
few hills fail to come up, as they probably
will when there is but one seed in place.
| CuItvafion.--This does not differ from the
cultivation of Indian corn, except that it
should be watched when near maturity. When
| it is intended to make sugar and molasses the
seed head should be plucked out. This should
be done after the seed has formed and before
it begins to fill, i. e., before it begins to form
a milky appearance, or, in other words, while
the seeds are yet of a green color in the side
| The seed heads are easily plucked out by
| grasping the head and jerking upward. In q
short time after this is done new panicles will
| shoot out from the joints below, on which new
| seed heads will form. As soon as the seed in
these new heads have begun to form the whole
stalk should be stripped of all its leaves and
pancles, leaving nothing but the naked trunk.
| Stripping.-This operation is performed very
| quick by those accustomed to it. 1t is done
| with an instrument shaped like pruning
hook, only it is larger and not sharp. A
stroke downward with this instrument, close
to the stalk, strips off not only the panicle and
| blades, but also the shcathe around the stalk
at the base of each blade. II the instrument
is sharp, it does not cleans the stalk so well,
and besides that, il would be likely to wound
the stalk, and cause it to sour.
CuttiHg.-This may be done as soon as tho
stripping is complete, but not until the mill
and the kettles are all ready, the cano
| should be ground as soon as il is cut, and the
juice boiled soon it is expressed; other
wise the quality of the syrup made from it
will be inferior, and it will be nearly impossi-
bic to make sugar from it at all.