The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-11-25


Gov. Bissel of Illinois appears in the Spring
field State Jopraai
ChrNEgy Hdusr, SPs,Norpib
November 5, 1858.
Gov WM. II. BsskLL-Dsar Sir.-I have
the pleasure Of presenting you a sample Of syrup
manufactured from the Chinese 8, "a ca ne crown
in the vicinity of this city, upon rich prairie
soil. The apparatus for making il was hastily
set up and rather temporary, and not ns compls Is
as desired
At the urgent solicitation of S. Francis, ESQ.
Corresponding Secretary Of the State Board of
Agriculture and editor OF the Illinois Earmsr.
MIR. J. c. Depew and myself have undertaken TO
demonstrate to the farmers of your State that
there exists in the "Sorgho,' or Chinese Sugar
Cane, a valuable saccharine property, in quality
sufficient to justify reasonable investment at
oil ceutral localities, i'll suitable machinery snd
apparatus to meet the demands of the surroup-
ding country.
The cane being very heavy article. and incon.
venient to transport and liable, also TO sour il
long on route, it is to be expected that the great
bulk viii be worked up by the farmer at ho ne,
and shipped to refners for sale, or exchanged
for sugars or refined syrups. Fixtures for their
use are now in successful operation, costing but
small sum, Those ofthe former class will no,
exceed the cost of Touring mills in Our Sta and
like them, may be ofany desired capacity. There
are now in most Of your principal towns engines
and boilers attached to steam saw mills. or
other factories, only partially emyloyed, that
can be made useful in working UP this new CROP
Retiuers will be established at all the principal
depots cf trade for their cost need not exceed /.
few thousand dollars. AS the syrup becomes
plenty aud cheap the demand for the superio,
will necessarily follow, giving employment 70
men and capital,
The past season has been one Of very unfa-
yorabc character for the production of rich
saccharins plants. Dry and hot weather are
requisite for such results.
The juice from which the syrup was made
which herewith send you 6deg" Beaume, "(Vooi
can marks 10 deg aud sometimes l5deg) reoui.
ring not only much exposure to the fire and a,
mosphere (both detrimental to all sugar and
syrup but more difficult of delccation. In this
wa used no defeating agent but lime, and added
it only to neutraze the acids present. in the
cane With well arranged apparatus, Whera
the fire or steam used in boiling is susceptible
of entire control there will be found no use for
other agents.
The chief difficulty to oil country experimen.
ters in syrup making exists in their slow boil.
ing. Six hours OF such would blachen and en-
bitter the clearest maple sap or even dissolved
loaf sugar.
Our farmers have not learned by experiment
the best soil and manner Of cultvatltts this cane,
The plant is an exceedingly hardy one and will
bear transpanting better than tobacco, and il
planted thus in the ridge, in fresh ground altar
The ordinary time OF corn pianting say from the
tenth TO the twentieth OF June, tho plants then
being from four to eight inches high, will out
grow the weeds, superseding the necessity of
wedding or hocing, and ensure a well matured
crop about the first Of September
| would here say that shis caBe should not he
grown on fiat, heavy, wet aud strong lands.-
The stalks may be large on such lands, but not
as rich in saccharne as canc grown on high
rolling or poorer soil. The object in growing
cane should be to get the sweecr, regardless or
size, and experience furnishes ample testimony
in favor oil the use OF such lands Al above men
toned.
Ii would b. a matter of ep regret If our far
meres should not make themselves acquainted
by reading and observation, it'll these i'm portsnt
facts, In my experiments have found cane.
the Juice OF which in one case would make. when
concentrated, one gallon OF syrup from four, in
other cases six und some requiring eight or nine.
and the brightest aud best from The swee test
juice.
We have made no preparation for sugar mn.
king, having learned the character of the cane
10 be worked in this ,ciuity, it is from the
rich caue, marked 10 deg. Beaum0 or upwards,
than sugar making WILDE most profitable: al
;hongh III some of the best specimens, boiled 10
heavy consistency, crystals appeared shortly
after being removed from the boiler
From all the experiments and examinations
havs been able to give this subject, | am
forced to this conclusion, that the Chinese susnr
cane is TO become one of the leading yeEetaolc
products of the West, that the time will come
when 1t will equal to US in Importance our crop
of corn: that il will do for W what tha sugar
cane has done for Louisiana, and cotton Tor
other States.
Placed as you are at the head OF the govern
mcnt of this great agricultural State. aud believ-
ing that YOU feel deep interest in whatever
concerns its prosperity, have felt ita duty and
pleasure to lay before you the results OF my
labor in your capital, Tor demonstrating tho
value to your citisens Of the new plant, the Chi.
nusc Sugar Cane, or "Ssrgho Sucre."
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't.
ISAAC A. HEDss.