Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-09-14
THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE.
For the Standard.
ROCKINGHAM, August 9th, 1859.

ROCKINGHAM, August 9th, 1859.
r. H. Saunders Esq,
Ny DEAR R:--Yours of the 22d, making enquiry
as to the best method and best time Of feeding Sugar
Cane to Mich Cows, has been received, ana III
answer can attempt nothing more than to give you
the result Of my experience in regard fere'o.-.
Taking q surface view Of the matter, 1t would seem
that the best time for using the cane was When IL
contained the greatest amount of nutrition, and TINS
would undoubtedly be true if the stomach could
avail itself of it.
The analysis of the cane as well all the cereals,
goes to show that there is greater amount OF SAT
charine matter at the tme and about the time OF the
natu,aon of the seed than at any other stage OF
s growth; for nature is always true to hcrsci, ana
when she requires more she provides more nut IL
by no means follows that at that time it then be-
comes tire proper time for feeding under all crcum-
stances and to every variety of stock The greatest
difficulty, and ali iusurmountabe one $50 lar as
ho ses and cattle are concerned is that the bark or
rnd of the stalk lat this stagc) has become so hard,
and the ibrcS of the pth tough. that they cannot
easily m,sticate it. and, for the want of this it Is
badly prepared, both for deglutition as well as for
digestion.
Besides ills there IS more or less danger Of cattle,
(who lew again what has been slightly chewed and
swallowcd,) particularly hungry ones, becoming
choked which has given rise to the foolish notion,
which YOU have seen again and again in the papers,
that Sugar Cane wasa dngercus food in consequence
OF some poisonous property it possessed, and, as
such, we are admonishcd against its use; whereas
tile danger does not arise from any poison contained
hut solely from the haIf persisted condition of the
animal, thus inclining HIM to swallow too rapidly
without proper mastication. Experiencing some
difficulty in horses and cattle eating it. when fully
or nearly ripc.l although | have never had any
either poisoned or choked have for the last three
years used it for green soing particularly for Mich
cows and for this purpose either plant in drills,
1.-THE stalks seine four inches apart OF scatter 1t
broad cast and cut it down for food, as soon as it
a:tains height from two to four feet, and upon
rong ground such as your City lots Afford you can
(of seasonabc years. NOW it at least three times;
thus getting greater amount, (and better food)
than YOU can possibly obtain from the same ground
in any other way.
When YOU have cut it you can either use it green
or let it wilt and then prepare, with cutting knife.
after which you may give as mach as the animal
will cat, without any, the least danger, either from
poim ,, ng or chohing
HIRE let me add, that in the preparation of any
food, whether cane. oats or grass the finer you
cut it the better and this for two reasons; the first
is, the animal chew it readily, and as such
eats more freely and the second reason is there
is more available nutrition, simply f:om the fact
that there points exposed to the absorption
of the stomach.
You say that your cane is now in full head. and
if so the best time has passed for profitable feeding
to Mich cows; they will fondly cat, and greatly
profit by it. even at this advanced stage but then
for the reasons given they will uaste too much and
economy in food should never be lost sight Of at
least by those who measure their land by "rods and
lerches."
am now making molasscS and feeding hogs,
upon plantation have in an adjoining county, and
the has not given the hogs grain Of corn
for .he last three weeks, and if you could them
you would say that they were any thing else than
1,oisoned.
have for years been in the habit of ordering on
nolasses Cor my black faml ". but stree the intro
ducton of the cane am saved this trouble and tx
pense, for make it. either without feeling know
ing the cost and even without incomnoding the
farming operations.
So highly do think of the Sugar Cane, both as
a food, as we'll for the manufacture of molasses
that feel fully satisfied that should the country
never receive any other benefit from the Patent
Office and Agricultural Bureau that the introduction
of that alone will amply repay all the outlay.
Understand me not as advocating that every farmer
should make his own molasScs. BY no means, for the
manufacture of il: upon small scale. would become
to many farmers too expensive; but do say that
erery tarmer sAouM 7wise it for his Stock and
particularly far his hogs.
In conclusion, let me say that would most gladly
accept your invitation and attend the State Fair but
for the fatigue of private conveyance for such at
present is the isolated condition of this section of
North Carolina that we arc in communication with
no where. This state of things, however, will not
continue long for our road from Wilmington is in
rapid state of progress and there is every probability
that it will reach this place sometime during the
year 1860.
When this is done shall most certainly (if life is
81 arcd, be regular attendant of the State Fair
Do yon not in this instance see another connection
between railroads and the agriculture of the country,
how they play into each others hands, and how
mutually they sbserve each others purposes! Yes,
they are like the twin sisters lin the fabe,) when
the one is in the decline the other is moping and
melancholy
Away then with such demagogues whether Demo-
cratic or Of the "Oppostion,' who have begun
already to initiate themselves with great concern
about the taxes of the dear people How on earth
can the State build roads without money, and how
can money he obtained without taxation?
Away with such demagoguing cant as this, and
let Us build roads from one extremity of the State
to the other, and let cross them at right angles
every sixty miles if necessary. Talk not to me
about its being the "true policy" of State to
build up its own towns. ny, sir, every body
knows this, AMI circums'a nces equal, 1t should BE-
done; but then, the other hand, you may push
even true policy. disconnectedly considered, tor
far and accomplish it at too great sacrifice to ohe,
| interests.
Make it the farmers interest to trade to the town,
of the State, and he will certainly do so; and this
is all you have either the right to require all tina
true patriotism should prompt him to. for surely
that is any thing else than patriotic that necessarily
leads to the impovershment of a mans family. ant
if he is forced to trade where it is against his inter
est impoverishment is the unavoidable consequence
I am then, as yon evidently perceive, in favo
both of general system of roads as we'll as fo
giving every considerable section outlet to market
and any other policy I regard as being unwise
illiberal and tyrannical
find, however, that am spinning out this lette
too far.
Respectfully and truly yours,
w. F. LEAK
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