The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-05-05
Chinese Sugar Cane.

-# ftAt SNS tS't ~" .N"tt S
.nasfnr up on the science Of Agriculture. The ques-
lions asked BY progressive minds were these How
may l improve my stock =? How renoyate these fruit
less worn out fields ? How Improve The quality and
quantity Of wheat, oats, corn. aud potatoes raised ! Is
there no better variety Of each one Of them, than | nov
hare /? What is the best method of cultivation ana
harvesting ? Such have been a few OF the earnest en-
ouiries sen. forth into the world, and as q very natural
result those enquiries are being fully answered. Al
saeacn men have had the benefit Of the experience Of
past ages, they have been obliged TO contend with the
whims aud notions Of pre- uaice, but keeping straight
ca~in the path Of scientific investigation they have con
qaerea, and are now displaying 10 tic world an I'M
proved system Of agriculture.
Among the many celebrated plants, seeds, roots, aud
grasses which have come TO us from abroad, the Chinese
Sugar Cane has taken the highest place in cur notice
The benefits which it seems calculated TO confer upon
US, are national from the fact that it may be grown
with great profit in nearly all sections of the United
States. 1t ought really to DO away with that sectional
n,onopoly in sugar and molasses--large ingredients in
tie culinary economy-for if we can raise those neces-
saries here. how much better Will it be than TO depend
upon slave labor for their supply
That il is eminently calculated TO be widely known,
and a. widely cultivated as known, is predicted oy all
who have ever had anything to do with it. Fields
which last wear il Illinois we're burdened with wheat or
corn. or oats, will his year be cultivated fer The Cane,
and the crushing and refining business will 60 on there
On q scale httle less than that carried on II the South
ern States We hail the day when we shall not De
compelled Il pay sl.25 per gallon for good syrup, Or
Is aud 90 cents for good sugar per pound. Farmers
will raise their own sugar, and such OF them VINO DO not
raise it, Will get il FOR 8 mere moiety Of what they have
&c pay now.
Nonr OF CuIr1yArfox-This is similar to the cul-
,iyation Of tbe common Indian Corn. Indeed, says
an Illinoisan. 1T has as wide 4 range for profitable
growth as Indian Corn We have no doubt it is very
much like It az respects soil, manuring and cultivating
prefer drills running north add south, 81 to ! ieet
apart. the seeds pretty thick, to be thInned out to . or
5 inches when well started. On a large scale II ~ per-
haps better to put 10 hills like corn, to admit Of blowing
og cultiyating both ways. 1t comes up like grass Or
cats, and grows slowly at first, but pushes 4 head rapid
II in July and ugust.'-[American Agriculturlst'
The soil of Minnesota is certainly we'll adapted to
raising the Cane. It is quick il terminating seeds Z;
unlike clay surface soils, ii does not long contain hui
nudity. Last year [ planted a half pound Of the seed
in a black friable loan. 1t came up IN q week, and IN
tma. weeks the pigeon grass had outstr1pped It. "hen
I came 10 hoe ii, | got down on all fcurs to search for
IL. it.may be easily detected from grass by the bright
nuplc spots in the blade. It does not grow fast until
the latter part Of June, when it begins to shoot up, and
crows more in two weeks than all before. planted
ike corn. One stalk will have three or four shoots,
each bearing seed, aud some OF them attaining the size
Of the parent stem. | fed the stalks to cattle, and they
atesthem with greater relish than hay evidently from
the great amount Of sugar in tie fodder. Cattle never
get tired Of sweet, and we need not speak Of lta need IN
the fatening process.
Il is quite common for one farmer to wait for another
in making experiments, with the design ostensipiy OF
engaging, if his ~nejghbor is successful. This IS not
fair on the Whole. Every farmer opght 10 be so deeply
interested in the great principles Of his occupation, as
to be willing to bear a part Of the expenses incurred IN
making trials of new things. At this time we have the
experience Of hundreds on the Chinese Sugar Cane, so
let US be no more heard saying, Il will wait until my
~neighbor has tried it Il, s.s
Remember it is to be had Of Mr.. Burbank, Of MIN
niger City at Hastings where he has q depot Of the
seed, and at the house Of l., N. Countryman, Spring
Lake. Price, one dollar per pound. Cheaper in large
quantities. Mr.. Burbank proposes TO bring up a crush
ing mill, 50 that the planters can make their own mo
lasses at any rate, if not their own sugar.