The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-04-30
From the N'cm Orleans Deltu.
THE SUGAR CANE IN LOUISIANA.

the Indian Ocean, Tanna, in the new lie
brides, Otal,eite (Socety Islands,) and tn,
Loo Tchoo Islands OF Japan.
There are numerous varieties in India
some of which are not classified. Each 0
the above countries mcntluned has firnisle,
one or more varieties peculiar to itself.
The cane called the Creole, of Malaba
Ind Bengal, was the first known to Eastern
nations; It WAS introduced into Arabia ron
India, shortly hiter the conquest of Alcxau
,lor the Great, thence into fyvpt, and LONG
afterwards into Sicily, Spaiu, even 10 Prov
encc in France; also. into the Canar;es
thchcc 10 The Antilles. and into Brazil nm,
the rrst of South America.
The sngar cane is now cultivated in al
tropical counties. i'll India as we'll us il
South America: and in the Unitcl State:
to the 34lh parallel of norl, latitude
but there the juice will no, crvs,alize. an.
makes syrup only. We will defer ron>id
ering this branch OF the suffice, ior ,h,
present
The half civilized Indians of Peru. Ea7il
New Granada. Mexico and trn,,a! Amer,
ca, cultivate the cane, and from its frrmrn
ted juice make an cxl,iara,n. drink. clc,
guaralo fucric or chica. which is a very
pleasant beverage i'll those warm climates
They also manufacture from the juir, Che
ncocu, Il species of coarse. unrurycl sugar
and Rn$lm1nr,, Il loScgraincl. boiled SUI
gar, which is put up in corn sl,ucks.
The first sugar cane imported into Lou
isiana, was brought from st. Domingo
Editor Dciia:
HISTORICAL STRETCH OF TIE INTRODUCTION
OF SUGAR CANE INTO LOUISIANA.
1t was in 1851, whilst tue Marquis de
Nau,!rcuil was Governor of the Colony Of
Louisiana, that ;llc sugar cane was first i'll
troduccd into that province. On the Eth
April Of that year, two hundred troops
were sent out from France to complete the
forces of the colony. The transports touch
cd Il. ST. Domingo, when the .Jcsuits of lie.
oganc, in the bay of Port-au Prince, obian-
cd leave TO send on board for their branch
establishment i'll New Orleans, II supply of
cane and few negroes used to its cultiva-
ton and tho manufacture of sugar.
These canes were planted in the spacious
gardens of the Reverend Fathers, where
now stands the First District of New Or
leans, just above the city, as it then existed.
1t was the Nalabar, or Bengal variety.
During the first two years, the .Jes,,its at
tended only 10 increasing the plant: and
lteir attempts for years afterwards to en-
sraet sugar were irui,lcss. They perscvercd
nevertheless.
Although the growth Of the caio vas
encouraging it did not attain maturity on
account OF the severity of the climate
it was, as we have said, the Malabar variety,
which has since been termed the Creole
cane.
Thus, to the spirit ofinlustry of the Je-
suits, is due the naturalization of the sugar
cane i'll Louisiana, which has been source
Of much wealth to the State.
The Jcsuits made some attempts to manu-
tac:urc sugar i'll 1851, but with no success,
and they attributed their failure to their
works being put up Oh too small scalc.-
They nevertheless, persisted.
From 1852 to 1853, several planters in
the cnvirons Of New Orleans, having pro
cured few plants, each, from the Jesuits,
cultivated them assiduously. At this tine
(l75S) Dubrcuil, who was Il ricI, planter,
attempted the experiment OH Il larger scale.
lie erected Il sugar-house on his grounds
near the lower extremity Of the town, where
is now lhcTh District, or FauLourg Mari
giny. Cpto 17G3 Ills attempts were dscour-
z.sing, and even fruitlcss, in the making OF
sugar; nor lad the Jesuits been more sue
ccssfuL
In 11Gt, tic Clevslier de Mazan, on the
opposite side Of the Mississippi, tried the
experiment without better SUCCESS; although,
several reports Of that epoch compare that
gentlc,nan's sugar to the brown sugar of St
Domingo, which was done more 10 cncour-
age him than because it was true. The
brown sugar of Louisiana never was and
never will be equal to that made in the
Wcst or East Indies, although its color is
sometimes preferable; but that is owipr to
hac age Of the cane and the nature of its
Juice.
Notwithstanding all this, in l7G5, several
planters, and among them Destrcllan, then
Treasurer Of the King Of France in the
Colony, put up works similar to those OF
DubrcuiI, below the city on the left bank
Of the river. The small quantity Of bad
sugar made Iy them, and consumed in the
country, looked exactly like marmcla,le on
guava jelly. In the same year, vessel
Whick sailed for France, took out number
of barrels of the article to complete her car.
go; but it was so inferior that it all leaked
ont before reaching port. I'm fact, even in
our own time, such is the case, sometimes,
With badly manufactured Louisiana susar.)
At that period the judicious use of lime
was not known, nor the true striking point,
two essential requisites. In one word, the
failure had been general.
In 1900, the manufacture of sugar was
totally 9bsrdoued in Louisiana. Those
Wfyo had tfitd it, were discouraged. The
crops did not even cover the outlay.
The trade of New Orleans then consisted
in lumber, indigo, pcltries, tobacco, cotton
tar, rice, and corn. -Dubreul was the rich.
est5planier in the colony. His slaves nun.
bcred Eve hundred; lie had brick yard
as indigo r,antation, a nursery for sill
worms, and gathered eight or ten thousand
pounds Of vegetable wax yearly from tho
Myr;ca Geriffra, of which liz had made