The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-01-18
AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

In looking over the Agricultural Report of the
Patent Office sent lis by Hon. Warren Winslow,
we find many points Of interest which would repay
q perusal. From it we derive the important nfor-
nation that agent has been employed visiting the
tea districts of China for the purpose of collecting
the seeds of the tea shrub and other plants with
view of introducing their cultivation into the United
States Investigations into the analysis of the cot
ton plant and the soils in which it grows, being
made by able chemist and also in reference to the
amount of alcohol and saccharine water in the Chi
sugar cane, and the nutrtve properties of the
yam, the potato, chufa, and indian corn. AS re-
CARDS the Chinese sugar cane tie Report informs
us that the plant endures cold much better than
corn, and resists without injury the ordinary au-
tumnal frosts. 1t will also withstand excessive
drought. In favorable seasons, when planted early
in May, it will rpen its seeds in September, if the
soil be dry and warm in many parts of the ex-
treme 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 ex-
treme South, it may be planted successfully from
January into July.
The cost and culture of this plant does not differ
essentially from that of Indian corn. The seeds
require 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 or drills feet apart with the plants foot
asunder along the drills, in hills with cores
pOnulnS NUMBER OF Stalks 10 eacn; OUT on rcner
land it has been found preferable to plant the hills
or feet asunder. If cultivated exclusively for
soling or dry fodder, the seed may be sown broad
east or in drills, and treated in the same manner as
Indian corn when grown for that use.
Considerable attention has been devoted to the
native grapes for the manufacture Divine. Within
the United States there forty we'll defined bo-
tanical species, including upward of one hundred
varieties of grapes half of them susceptible of be-
ing converted into wholesome wine. Particular
mention is made of the Scuppernong grape, which
fourishes so luxuriantly in this State, deeming it
in respect to the quantity Of saccharine matter, to
surpass all Others
In experiments made BY Maj John Leconte of
Philadelphia with the Isabella grape in New York,
the wine produced was found to be poor and thin,
and that to have liquor of even olerable strength,
it was necessary to add considerable quantity of
sugar, which practice is condemned. The idea
that Scuppernong wine connot be made without
alcohol cider &C., is here proved to be false one
is also the practice of adding honey to the juice
after fermentation to sweeten it, thus producing a
mixture of wine and half fermented mead.
The cuttings of sugar-cane imported from Deme-
rara promise to largely compensate for the trouble
More than one hundred bushels of sugar-cane from
France have been distributed for cultivation, and
sufficient returns have been made to prove that it
will be valuable for feeding stock and other econ
omical uses. The cultivation of the Chinese yam
has been success; also bald barly from Tuscany
and wheat from the Mediterranean. The Com
missioner is of opinion that the success which has
attended the experiment of disseminating new and
useful seeds, and the collection and PRONUNCIATION
of facts connected with the history progress, and
economy of the principal staples, fully warrant
the expenditure which has been made for those
purposes Wilmington Herald.