Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-05-01
WARlGT TW. 4.
Chinese Sugar Cane.

NhAiOSO SdnS.
We have heretofore devoted considerable
of our space to articles upon the cultivation
and value of the Chinese Sugar Cane, from
y conviction of the great Importance ofthis
addition to our agricultural resources The
following, which we find in the last number
of the Cotton Planter, is very practical
and Ineligible statement, of its successful
mode and treatment, and may be Of service
to such of our readers as are interested in
its cultivation. Wtarlestom Mercury.
CHINESE SUGAR MILLEr.
Dr. C2oud-Dear Sir 1t is almost use
less now to say anything more about this
plant, i'll regard to its qualities for yielding
syrup and sugar, besides several other arti,
cles. 1t has now been fairly tried all over
the South and though it may not have
come up to so great yield of syrup as was
claimed for it, still it stood its trial gori-
ously.
The "Sugar Millct" must unquestionably
form an epoch in the farming of the South
orn States. The sugar growing section,
hitherto not extending much north of the
latitude of New Orleans, has now been en-
largcd with several degrees further towards
the North. The possibility for every plan
ter of making his own syrup is certainly a
matter of great Importance. 1t is truly
amusing, that some persons arc still so far
"bchind time" as to consider this plant
identical with the old fashioned "Chokcn
Corn" Why, the mere chewing of piece
of the stalk would be sufficient to convince
even "Hack. Boss" of the great difference.
But, on the other hand, its value as for
age plant ought not to be overlooked; for,
as such, it is unquestionably inferior to
none. Many person will perhaps think
that am praising it too highly, bat feel
confident that this plant is not yet appre-
ciatcd half as much as il deserves.
In cutting it for syrup, great fault is
committed in cutting it before it is thor
oughly maturcd BY all means let the
seed be dead-ripe before the cane is cut for
the mill. by cutting it before that period,
you will get larger quantity of juice but
1T will be watery, require more boiling,
shrink rrore and make an inferior syrup.
There is no necessity for nor advantage in
stripping off tho leaves, or pinching off the
seed panicles, before the seed is thoroughly
ripe. This operation would only cause the
stem to throw out suckers, which would be
an injury to the cane.
In boiling the juice it is of great impor-
tancc to strain itwcll, and to have the kct-
tie we'll filed The whole mass will sim
mer much better than if the boiler is only
half full, and not be so apt to boil over 1t
should not be stirred at all until thick
brownish crust has gathered over the whole
surface, when this crust should be removed,
and the liquid strained into the second
boiler, and so on, until it gets its proper
consistency.
The question has been made: How to
keep the canes until Fall?' In reply /
would say that there is no difficulty in it.
Any barn or shed will answer; let the canes
be thoroughly matured and place them on
the ground floor in layer, say II to 10
inches thick. Put another layer of canes
of similar thickness on the top of the first,
but crOSS-Wdy, and so on. Cover the whole
pile; the best material for it is baggasse,
or refuse canes which have passed through
the mill. In this way the canes will keep
avery long time in excellent condition, and
when taken out for grinding, it will be
found that many of the watery parts have
evaporated, but that the juice is much rich
er, and will yield very superior article of
syrup w HcH ~ VIII require aDOuG seven
gallons of juice from fresh canes to pro
duee gallon of good syrup, that same
quantity, and of quality, can be made from
four to five gallons of juice pressed from
canes which have been preserved in this
way for some weeks.
The saccharine principle will not evapor-
ate; on the contrary, the cane seems to i'm
prove in iavo9 by being pntup in this way
for some time; similar to the process which
apples are undergoing by being kept for some
time. | will now say few words about the
Sugar Millet, as q forage plant. The saving
of corn is a most Important matter, particu-
larly when prices are so high, as has now
been the case for several years.
When planted early in April, and on good,
high, sandy land, this millet will, by the be-
ginning of July, have matured its canes suf-
ticiently to serve as substitute for corn in
feeding stock. The nutritious qualities of
the Sugar Cane are too we'll krown to need
any explanation. Even before the seed is
perfectly ripe, the canes can be cut for this
purpose. Let the whole, stalks, leaves and
seed, be cut up in common straw cutter, al
lowing ton or twelve good strong stalks to
each working animal per twenty-four hours.
Two common hands can easily, in fifteen min
utea, cut up stalks enough for twenty heads,
and ifa few handfuls of bran are scattered
over the pile of cut fore 90 rs o 1ayoring, so
mack the better Working animals fed in