Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-18
N NASHVILLE:
MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1858.
Chinese sugar C.no Convention.


A convention of persons who have, du-
ringthe past season, experimental with the
Chinese Sugar Cane, assembled at Spring
field, ILL.,, on the It'll inst. A correspon-
dent of the ST. Louis Democrat, says its
results must prove of vast Importance.
Much information was elected, and if it
can be properly collated, digested and
made readable, will be of great benefit to
all branches of industry, especially to the
agricultural. There were thirty specimens
of syrups exhibited the greater portion
of which were Of inferior quality, whilst
some, light in color, were very superior
The evidence elected abundantly proved
that the cane can be kept after it is cut
from six to ten weeks without injury This
is an important fact The Democrats cor
respondent adds:
There were many specimens of the sugar from
the Chinese sugar cane presented. They al,
of fine grain, and made in small quantities. They
proved but little except that sugar be made
from it. Fad there been no sugar exhibited but
that which made in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio,
Kentucky and Louisiana the preponderance of tes-
timony in the convention would have been against
its extensive growth for its sugar king qualities.
But the specimens sent the convention by Mr..
Lowering, ofPhiadelphs, demonstrated that SUGAR,
as ,chtte and as fine as eUer nerd be made used,
be made from this cane. The grdin the coIor,
and the ,chole appearance like those of the best
loaf or lump sugar. But how was manufactured,
or whether it can be made article of COM
merce, have means OF knowing, nor did 1t
appear to the convention. It would seem that the
forest land yields the richest cane. The extracted
juice yields from seven to TWENTY-FIVE per cent OF
syrup, and good crop makes from two hundred
and fifty to four hundred gallons OF syrup per acre.
The opinion seems to be that the enterprise is
certain success, although the growers have much
to learn. The ignorance Of the manufacturers, and
the want of proper fixtures and machinery to work
up the stock, has led to some expensive mistakes.
We are of the opinion, all things consid-
cred, that there is no good reason for the
planters of the Chinese Sugar cane to be
discouraged. They have done well upon
the stock Of information they possessed.
Experience will conquer the difficulties
which they encountered, and lead them to
triumph. In regard to the sugar produ-
cling qualities of the plant, the following
letter from Mr.. Lowering, the gentleman
whose sugar is referred to above, will be
read with interest. 1t was read to the
Conventions:
OAKHILL, (Philsdelphia,) Dec. 80, 1857
s. FRANCIS, Esq.-Dsdr Sir:-The editor of the
Germantown Telegraph havins sent me this days
paper, containing some extracts from your letter
to him, in which you express desire to have
some of the sugar and molasses made by me from
the Chinese sugar cane, with Instructions in regard
to it's manufacture, and Offering to forward them to
you for me, l have taken advantage of this kind
ness and placed in his hands box containing sam
Piles of the different qualities of sugar. and OF the
molasses have made, and also the yield l have |
obtained per acre. The quantity Ihave is not suf.
fcent to supply one-fourth the applicants for it.
even in samples and thus far | have declined to |
send out any, as my report of the process and ex-
periments is not yet ready for distribution it being
in the hands of the printer, who will not have it |
printed for about ten days; but as your convention
will inset before that time, | make an exception |
and send the samples in advance, and will forward
one more copies of the report, when ready to |
be disposed of they or yourself may determine.
will, however, briefly state, for their encour, |
agement, that the actual yield have produced per
acre is: brown sugar, 122l.S5 pounds; molasses,
IA, SO gallons, and have doubt but that with |
proper apparatus and good cultivation from 800
to 800 pounds OF such brown sugar, and from 95
to ITO gallons of such molasses, per eau be |
obtained without difficulty.
l am pleased to hear Of 30 much enthusiasm in |
your State in regard to this new and valuable ac-
QUESTION to list of agricultural products, and
hope next year to hear more about sugar and less
about syrup. l am, however, surprised that
our farmers have not succeeded in making sugar at
this early stage OF the experiment, they have
not as yet the requisite knowledge and experience
but am somewhat disappointed to find that our
scientific experinentasts have entirely failed to
produce any useful results, or, indeed any results
at all.
can, however, assure you that there Is no diff
Guilty whatever in producing such sugar as the
samples sent herewith, which hope to demon
strate in my report.
JOSEPH S. LOWERING.