Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-05-06
8nraI aud 9amestie.
Agriculture.
CHINESE SUGAR CAME.
Report OF THE UNITED sTATE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY


Report OF THE UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
Conformably to the resolutions adopted by
the q. s. Ag1 Society. held at the city of
Washington in February 1857, the Committee
appointed to investigate and experiment upon
the Chinese sugar cane, with the view OF de
termining its value for the purpose ofsyrup and
sugar-meking, soiling cattle, use of the seed for
feeding stock, for bread making, and for the
manufacture of paper, and alcoholic liquors Deg
leave to report as follows:
Agreeably to the requirements, there was
imported from France sufficient Sorgo seed to
plant 100 acres of land. This seed was placed
In the hands of O. number of individuals in differ
eut sections of the country, who cultivated it
uuder various conditions of soil and climate
From the results of their experiments in nine
ty localities, between New Brunswick, in the
British dominions, and Mexico on the one hand,
and Florida and Washington Territory on the
other, the Committee arrived at the following
conclusions (:
LIST. The sol and geographical range of the
Chinese sugar cane correspond nearly with
those of Indian corn, and it thrives with great
uxuriance in rich bottom lands or in moist
loamy soils well MANFRED. 1t will also produce
a fair crop on dry, sandy or gravelly soils, too
poor to give a remunerative crop of other plants.
On the latter class of soils, however, it proved
more profitable to the cultivator where there
had been applied a moderate quantity of bone
aust, woodashes. poudrette, phosphated guano.
gypsum or super phosphate offime.
I'd. This plant endures cold much better
than corn, and resists without injury the ordin-
E-,tz II mill o1Sn withstand av-
cessive drought. In favorable seasons when
planted early in May IT win ripsn its seeds IN
September, if the soil be dry and warm. In
many parts of the extreme northern and New
England States: and in October in the Middle
and Southern States when planted as late as
the Goth of June. At the extreme South it
may be planted successfully from January to
July. "
Sd. The cost and culture of this plant does
not differ essentially from that Of Indian corn.
The seeds required to be planted at different
distances apart according to the strength of
the soil. On light moderately rich land, it
succeeded best when sown in rows or drills
three feet apart with the plants a foot asunder
along the drills, or in hills with a correspond
ing number of stalks to each but on richer
land it has been found preferable to plant the
hills 4 or S feet asunder. If planted exclusive
ly for soiling or dry fodder, the seed may be
sown broadcast or in drills, and treated in the
same manner as Indian corn when grown for
that use. .zuHspz 3us a1G $50
4th. The height of the plant when fully
grown varies from 6 to Ii feet, according to
the locality and the condition of the soil the
stalks ranging from half an inch to two inches
~ Jsar,13ar NgrFbos aan.cl1 IF 4ha ar4srog o~oo 70
an acre, when green, varies from 10 to 40 tons.
The amount of seed to the acre is reported from
IS to so bushels.
5th. During the early stages Of the growth
Of this plant, say for the first six or eight weeks,
it makes but little progress, except in penetrat-
ngsthe ground withsits roots which occasion
yedso great a disappointment in some cuitiya-
tors, that they e~xterminated it from their fields
and replanted for other crops; from the tenden-
zcy7of the genus to which it belongs to sportor
run into varieties many persons have com to
wrong conclusions with a belief that the seed
was impure or mixed. The period of growth
varied from 80 to 100 days; the seeds often
ripsn unequally in the same field.
9Th. The yield of juice, in weight of well
trimmed stalks, was about so per cent. The
number of gallons of juice required to make a
gallon of syrup varied from 5 to 10. according
to the locality, the nature of the soil on which
It was produced, and the succulent condition or
maturity of the canes. In the province of New
Brunswick it required 10 to l. In the rich
bottom lands of Indiana and Illinois, about Z
to1 and in light lands in Maryland and Vir-
rginia, . TOD. The yield of syrup per acre udr-
led from 150 to 400 gallons The amount of
pure alcohol produced by the juice ranged from
5 to 6 per cent. In cases where the plant was
well matured and grown upon a warm light
soil, the juice yielded from Is to 16 per cent. of
dry saccharine matter, from Q to IL per cent
of which was well defined crystalized cane su-
gar, and the remainder uncrystalizable matter,
or glucose but that taken from stalks obtain
ed on rich lowlands, luxuriant in their growth,
yielded considerably less
7th. A palatable bread was made from the
-four ground from the seeds of this plant, of a
pinkish color, caused by the remnants of the
hulls of the seeds.
try, this plant is universally admitted to be a
wholesome, nutritious and economical food for
uninads all parts of it being greedily devoured
in agreenor dried state, by horses, cattle, sheep,
poultry and.swine, without injurious effects
the two latter fattening upon it equally as well
as upon corn.
9th, Paper Of various qualities has been
manufactured from the fbrous part of the stalk
some of which appears to be peculiarly fitted for
special use, such as bank notes, wrapping pa
per, &c
From the above summary the Committee are
of opinion that the Chinese sugar cane possess
ses qualities Wh-ichcomnend it to the especial
attention of the Agriculturists of all parts of
the country, as the proceeding facts have de-
monstrated that it is well suitedto our national
economy, and supplies what has long been a
sdesideratum. AlIef which is respectfully sub
united. D. JAY BROWNE,
Chairman.
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