The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-02-25
S0RGHO SUGAR,

|
Of obtaining crystalizcd sugar from the
Chinese cane was publicly denied by q
number OF persons who had made expert
mcn's with the juice, some of whom were
known AS scientific men and practical sugar
rciincrs. Such opinions naturally led es-
tray those who had no means Of making
experiments for themselves. II is Il curious
fact, however, that at the very time when
such opinions were being propagatcd, the
! most effective shot and shell were being
! prepared for their demolition. We had
! Thought, from what we have already pub
ll>cL on this subject, that but little if any
thing useful could be added to our stock OF
knowledge until experiments were made
with the future crop of this year, but in
! this opinion We have found ourselves mis-.
taken. We lltl received some excellent
samples OF this sugar from various parties
but no certain data as 10 the quantity and
quality Of The sugar to be obtained from the
cane per acre: but we have now received
very satisfactory information on this point.
Mr.. Joseph Lowering, of Oallhill, Phia.
dclphia county, Pa. Il very scientific and
practical sugar rctncr, has sent us Il box
containing as beautiful samples OF loaf
white, gr;,nnlacl and brown Soryho sugars
rs any cane sugars whatever. lie had
planted half IN acre of the seed on his farm,
and with the stalk, of this he made correct
AMI scientific experiments. Before proceed
! IN" to refine the juice, he wisely examined
| 1t with The polariscopc to see if it gave the
usual Indications of possessing crvstalizablc
sugar This examination afforded the proof
that 1t contained 551 per cent Of sugar {;
and from this dat, he went on, and made
those experiments with the juice which re-
suited i'll the samples of beautiful sugar he
has sent us. Mr.. l.. has also given Il de-
tailed account of his efforts in :, well written
pamphlet, and from these he has derived al
Inc conclusions that an acre of this cane.
i'll good season, will yield about l,4GG
pounds Of sugar and "a gallons of molas
scs-a result corresponding to that obtained
Oh the Louisiana plantations with the real
sugar cane. The experiments of Mr.. Low
cring are Of n reliable character, because
they were performed with care, and he is
not mere tlcorist, but one well acquainted
with s"gar-rctinng i'll I'LL its branches.
We apprelcnd, from The facts now spread
out before the community regarding this
plant, that it will be extensively cultivated
during the next season. y convention of
farmers WAS held on The 18th inst, ut
Springfield III, to consult on measures us to
It's tu'nrc cultivation. All present expressed
themselves gratiiicd with their experience
With The cane, and resolved TO give it more
attention next season. One farmer present
stated that its seed made flour equal to
0uckwhcat in every respect, and the yield
was twenty five bushels to the acre. Twas
also asserted that we had no plant equal to
1t, IN all things, because it could feed us
with bread made from its flour, as well as
provide lis with our sirups and sugars.
In connection with this part of the sub
Ject, we wuu!d note singular statement
nude by DIR. G. L. Jackson, at the meet
ing Of the United States Agricultural Socie-
ty, held at Washington on the 18th inst.
VIZ, that about two years ago he had OBJ
tanned large percentage of crystalizable
sugar from the juice Of some Sorgho sugar
cane grown ut the United States Arsenal.
Massachusetts. 1t is surprising that we
never heard Of this before, and that Dr..
Hayes, Of Boston, Mass, was unacquain ted
with it when he published his views as to
the crystalizaLc character of the Sor-
glio juice.
In our next number we will have some
remarks TO make on another sugar-produc-
ing plant, the African Aaphce, regarding
which we have a letter from Governor
Hammond, Of South Carolina -,Scienti6c
-lmcrican