The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-06-16

Culture of Chinese Sugar Cane.

The seed OF this new plant having beer
widely disseminated over our country, few
words in regard to the culture it should re
ceive are deemed highly appropriate. W.
have before us a circular from the Patent OF
flee upon this subject from which we geathel
tho ideas here given.
The sugar cane is said to be of easy cult
vation and has proved itself to bo well adapt
cd to the geographical range Of Indian corn.
1t may be sown broadcast, but does not sue
ceed so well as when planted in hills or drills.
If the soil be Indifferent or poor, it may be
planted in hills, five or more seeds to each,
four or five feet apart in one direction and
three or four in the other The rtimo for
| planting the same rs for Indian corn. The
| after culture may be similar 10 that of In
dian corn. Any suckers or superhuous shoots
which spring up may be removed. The
seed should not be harvested until they &C.
qnre a'dark and blacksh hue. Should the
plants lodge or fall to the ground by tho
excessive weight Of the heads during storms,
before the seeds are fully matured, they may
remain for weeks without injury.
harvesting the sccd a convenient meth
cd is to cut off the stalks about foot below
twenty-five or moro to each bunch, and sus-
pend them in any secure airy place sheltered
from rain. IF intended solely for fodder, the
first crop should be cut Just before the panic
los would appear, and second as soon rs
the seed arrive at the milky stage. It may
be tod up in boundlos, shocked and cured,
like the tops or stalks of Indian corn. If
not intended TO be employed in any other
economical usn after the seeds have been re-
moved and if the weather be cool, the high
est temperature of the dav not exceeding |
45dog. or 60 deg F. the stalks NAV he cut
close 10 the ground tied in bundles, collected
in shocks. or slowed in a mass, in a succulent
state for fodder, in sheds or barns where they
will keep without injury until the weather
becomes warm in the spring. I'm this con-
dition, however, the lowest part Of the stalks
will be foun to bo quite hard and woody,
and will require to be chopped into small pie
,es before feeding.
That this plant is destined TO prove val
iable addition to our agricultural products
We cannot but believe. The high recomen-
lation il has received from various response
DE sources; certainly Justify our farmers and
,ardners in giving it fair trial. We hope
hey will do so, and that in the fall such Of
'ur readers as have experimental with it
will communicate to us the result of their
abors
The plant IS said to grow to the height of
rom eight to sixteen feet. It's stems are
traicht and smooth, often covered with n
White bloom, or wax, having leaves somewhat
cxuous falling over md somewhat rescm-
ling, in appearance, those Of Indian corn, but ;
IFS. containing eight or ten stalks oach, it
uts forth at its top conical panice Of dense '
overs, green at first, but changing into vio- c
IT shades, and finally into dark purple at !
,aturity. In Algeria, it is perennial, hav-
ng produced crops three years in succession I
'om the same roots; but in France and in
he central and northern sections of the Uni I
ID States, i. has thus far proved an annual /
t stands drought far better than Indian !
orn, and will resist the effects of considera- {
le without injury, after the panicles appear, t
at none in it's tender state. If suffered to {
,main in tho field after the seeds have ri a
ened, and have been removed, where the r
,ason is sufficiently warm and long, new Z
anices will shoot out at the topmost joints, I
no or moro to each stalk, and mature n sec @
nd crop of seed. The average yield Of seeds @
, each penicle is least gill, or about two I
,ousand to one Lansing Republican. r