American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-01-24
THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE.


,he,e is scarcely periodical dev"ted tn
farming. that we take up tn read, but
centains either editorial remarks or lot.
ters on tn, subject of lis cultivation.
Further experiments are required to
solve the question of lie valnc ~ a
source for obtaining sngar- North and
Sou,h-ir"m its saccharine Juice; Tut
for Il :orage crop there seems to be no
doubt nf its value, aud that il will bv
extensively planted for such purposes
next spring.
1t is matter which certainly de.
serves positive and general attention,
because every Improvement ia ag'icul-
ture, whether it bs in its chemistry OF
in the introduction Of new plant like
the Chinese sugar cane, secures gen
oral benefit, if the surplus products of
the soil are increased thereby, a $ upon
these depend the prosperity Of com
mercc and the arts.
This plant, it is pretty generally I'M
<Ierstood, was first introduced into our
country by DR.. J. Brnwne. mf the Pat
ent Office, who gives a valuable account
oft in his report Of 1854. He had pre-
vionsl y seen u smnll field of II growing
in France. aud being struck with it's
similarity To our Indian corn. he became
convinced tina, it would flourish where
tina. plant would thrive. and was thus
led to obtain its seed. From the seeds
distributed by the Commissioner of Pat
eu,s. varinrs farmers have made eXper-
iments, aud have given the results Of
their labnrs Ia tho public, through Vn-
rious periodicals-ihe Scientific Amrri-
can among tho number. A new pam
phler, by Jas. +. &. Hyde, Of Newton
Center. Mass, on the subject presents
.coDsidera ble that il Interesting relating
10 it. He states that although sugar
has been, and can be made from this
cane, both in our own country, and IN
France, .the question is, whether il
will supersede tho old cane in the South
and can be protitab>y cultivated at the
NOr,h.' III answer io This he advances
tho opinion, based on his own expert
ments that "experience is all that is
wanted 20 obtain sugar from it Of tie
best quality and in liberal quantities.
aud he is convinced also. that it is a
most valuable plant for other purposes,
such as fodder. This seems t" he the
opinion OF evory person who planted
the seed and made experiments last
year; we have not read single con.
Jradictinn To such favorable testimony,
and this is the reason wo believe. why
50 many farmers are preparing To CALI
vAte it the next season. We hope they
will not get up a Rohan p"tat' and
lirnrus IIulticauiNS excitement respect
mgih. seed while it is dear, and pay
'ex"rbitan, sums to obtain. Our farmers
who cannot obtain the seed at q re9Son-
able price, can afford 10 wait ill it be-
comes cheaper. and by so doing they
will also obtain The experience of those
who cultivate il, aud this is worth s"me-
ghiug, as the best method of lis cultiva-
ton has yet To be learned.
It's to this part which we wish par.
ticularly to direct attention n, pre- sent
those who intend TO plant it sh"nId un-
derstand the best known methods Of
preparing the soil for its reception. and
taking care Of the plants. Farmers
should first be very careful in obtaining
the genuine seed Of the cane II. Bat
tsy, of Rome, Ga. in the last number
Of the Southern C~ltirator, states that
there are several varieties Of it, differ.
Jog widely from one another; and thar
some samples of this cane grown last
season at the North and exhibited at
various Fairs are quite different from
those grown at the South. The North.
ern canes were from 10 To IL feet high
with pith but very little sweeter than
corns'alks, while those grown at the
al. 4 A A 4
had pitl as sweet as that of tho real
sugar cane. fln believes that these va.
rieties are dne to an admiXtnre Of pol.
len from bru0 N aud other corn. The
soil should be well plpwed, and put in.
to the Same m-IIuwed condition as for
Indian corn. The seed should be- plant !
ed at least three feet apart every way
and three dropped into bill, and they !
are afterwards 10 be cultivated exact !
" like corn. Broom corn, D2ur0b com
and all plants Of the same family must
not be planted near il, a. it is liable TO !
intermix with thc,o. aud would thus be |
ruined fnr The production Of syrup. A
small portion nf the crop should be rec |
served for seed, AID permitted To stand .
ill it was fully ma'nred.
1fdcsigned for fodder, all the shoots :
and suckers which spring up tom The |
root, should be permitted to grow; if dc.
signed for making syrup aud sugar, the |
bills may be- panied more close togeth.
or and the seed heads should be- pinched I,
of before they are fully formed, The
fret care ofibosc who design cuIiivatipg .
it should be To raise strong aud healthy |
plants for seed and for fodder. and to ,
make careful experiments as To tho best
method of developing its soccha'rue
qpaIitics. II il be fouod that it produces |
.uiFiciont jniceto warrant its cultivation |
for syrup or sugar, farmers Can easily |
be furnished witll ina chimerY for all the |