The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-02-25
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THE CHINESE suGAR.CANE.

THE CHINESE SuGAR-CANE.
From circular received fran the Patent
Office, signed Charles Mason, Commissioner
we gather, among other interesting State
ments, the following:
0RIoIN.-1'his new plant seems to be des-
tined TO take an important position Among
our economical products. Its seeds were
sent, some six years ago, from the north Of
China, By NJ. de Mvntignr, to the Geogra-
phical Society Of Paris. From a cursory ex-
animation ofa small field Of it, growing at
verrieres, IN Frahce, in the autumn of 1854,
Mr.. ID. J. Browne, then on mission from
this Office for collecting agricultural inlorma.
ton and products, was led to infer that, from
the peculiarity Of the climate in which il was
growing, and its resemblance in appearance
and habit to Indian corn, il would flourish in
any region wherever that plant would thrive.
From this source, he obtained some 900
pounds Of the seed, which was distributed,
IN small packages, BY this Office, among the
membrrs ol Congress. with The view of ex-
lperimenting with 1t in all parts Of the Union,
and thereby ascertatnng lis adaptation 70 our
soil aud climate. In numerous instances the
tained the height 81 eight or ten feet, as far
North as 81. Pauis IN Minnesota, aud ma
tured its seeds at various puints in Massa-
chusetls, Ncw-York, PENNSYLVANIA, Illinois,
and other places further South. The follow.
4 ing year. while IN France. on similar mis-.
sion as above, MIR. Browne obtained several
bushels u the seed Of this plant, grown from
that reputed to have been brought from
South Africa, by Mr.. Leonard Wray, of
I London, and which has since proved ID be
identical with that obtained by tins oiIice in
4 1854.
DEscmPTinS AND HABIT OF GRowTH-rhe
7 Chinese sugar-cane, when cultivated on
ordinary land, in the United States, some
what alter the manner Of broom.corn. grows
7 to height Of from eight 10 sixteen feet. while
/ IN Europe it docs not attain much more than
! hall Of this altitude. lis stems are straight
4 and smooth, often covered with white bloom,
\ ar down, having leaves somewhat nexuous,
falling over and greatly resembling III ap.
lpearance those Of ludian corn, but more ele-
i ean; in form. When cultivated IN hills,
containing eight or ten stalks each, il puts
j forth at ITS top a cuncsl panical Of dense
flowers, green at first, but changing into violet
/ shades, and finally into dark purple, at MA
turity. Ia France aud the central and north
ern section of the United States, it has thus
/ FAR proved an annual but Tram observations
made by vi. Nilmulln, as well as some ex-
pcriments IN our Southern States, il il con.
lectured that, from the sigor aud lullness Ut
the lower part nf the stalks, in autumn, By
protecting them during tine winter, they
would produce new plants the following
spring. Ii stands drought FAR better than
Indian corn, and will resist the effects Ol
considerable frost without injary, after the
panicles appear. but not IN its younger and
more tender state. II suffered to remain in
the field after the seeds have ripencd and have
been removed, where the seasun Is sufficient.
Ily warm aud long. new panicles will shoot
out at the tcpmOst jmnts, one Or more 70
each stalk, and mature second crop Of seeds
The average yield Of seed TO each pancle i
at least a gili.
CULTNATIoS.- its introduction into
this country, the Chinese sugar.eane has pro.
we'd itself well adapted to our geographical
range Of India corn. II Is Of easy cultivation
being similar 10 that 0i maize OF broom corn
but will prosper in a much poorer sOil. j
does moi succeed 30 well, however, when
sown broadcast with the view Of producing
fiddler. a. il will not grow to much more than
one.half ol lis usual height. II tile seeds ar,
planted IN May, in tie Middle States, Or still
earlier al the Suu'h. two crops oI fodder cal
be grown in d season from the same roots
the lirst one IN June or Jnly, 10 be cut belor,
the paniclcs appear, which would be greer
aud succulen:, like young Indian corn-an,
the other month or two later, at the tine
or before, the seed is fully maturcd. In tht
extreme Northern States. where the seasnl
) i too short aud cuul for IL 10 ripcn IN thi
. upen air, the culti,atUr viii necessarily has,
Ia obtain bis seed from rcgi0ns farther south
III il were important for hun 10 raise his owl
seed, he could start The plants under glass, il
the spring, and remove them 10 the field %
garden at about the period oi planting lndiaf
corn, after which they would fully mature
One quart Of seeds are found tu be suIlieien
for an acre. II tie soil be indifferent Of poor
they may be sUwn 10 rows or drills abuu
three feet apart. with the plants frun ten {,
: twelve inches asundcr; but IL the soil b,
rich, they may be planted IN hills, five Q
more seeds 10 each, four o. five feet apart u
one direction. and three o. four 10 tie other
The plants nay be worked Or hoed twice i
the course Of the season, 10 similar manne
/ 10 Indian corn. ANY suckers or supcrlluuu
. shoots. which may spring up, may be remoy
J. ed. The seed should not be harvested beiUrl
; il acquires dark ot black hue. Should th'
plants lodge, OF fall to the ground, by th,
excessive weight Of the heads. during storm
ci wind or rain, belure the seed natures
they may remain for weeks without injury.