The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-02-21

WILL kORGHUM CRISTAL.lZL3
Practical Results.

lion. attitude Of Louisiana at this time,
the source upon which hitherto we have
drawn largely for our saccharine sup
plies, warns us as a matter of safety to
ourselves that some other and more re-
liable source. should he sought out, and
that, with as little delay as possible.
We now have some facts to give up
on the same subject obtained from Mr..
Aaron II. Miller OF Kankakee. La Porte
County, Indiana, who has been engag-
ed in raising and manufacturing the
Chinese Sugar Cane to a limited extent
for the past three years.
THE KIND or solr.
The kind of soil Upon which Mr.. Mil
Ter has made his experiments is a rich
light sandy loan, with a southern *
nosure, sheltered on the north and west
BY 4 grove Of timber, thereby breaking
the force Of the cold, raw winds which
usually comes from those quarters in the
spring months Of the year when the
plant is young and sensitive to the in
tiuence of heat and cold. This is an
important consideration. and skonld al
ways be borne in mind by persons who
intend to embark in the business. The
soil should lie well and thoroughly
named. Other soils than the light
sandy loan may be equally as good.
perhaps better, but this is the soil which
MI. Miller has employed, and he feels
satisfied with it.
MODE OF CULTIVATION.
The ground should be plowed early
III May, 10 inches deep, or soon as the
weather will permit, and the seed should
bs pat in as soon after the blowing as
possible. Previous to planting, the seed
should be put into warm water and al
lowed 70 sprout this gives the corr q
good start ahead Of the grass. and this
start will be strongly and benefcially
manifest in the future growth of the
corn. Before planting, tho ground
should be well dragged until it has ac-
CURED perfectly smooth surface, when
it should be marked irRo rows four feet
apart running North and South, and
eighteen inches apart running East and
West. Net more than three stalks
should be allowed in q hill, and suckers
and parasites Of every description thor
oughly wceded out. As soon as the
cane becomes large enough the c%ultiva-
tor and hoe should be put in operation,
the c%ultivator first, to be followed soon
after by the hoe, and this process can
be continued with advantage until the
cane reaches a height of about four feet
when it can be left to itself until ripe
In obtaining seed precaution should be
taken in getting a pure article. The
largest share OF the seed sold has q LARGE
amount OF broom-corn seed mixed with
It, which greatly deteriorates the quail
ty and quantity of the syrup. Nh. NJ.
deems It essential that the cane should
reach q thorough maturity before it is
cut, especially is this important in crys-
talization. When the cane is ripe, it
should be stripped Of its leaves and al
lowed to stand thus exposed to the sun
. few days, when it should be cut, and
set up where it will dry sufficiently to
admit Of being housed, where it must
remain in as nearly the same condition
Is possible until worked up. If allow
cd to freeze, it should be manufactured
Immediately, owing to its tendency.
after freezing to ascidity, whichtendency
however, is less in proportion to the
the ripeness Of the cane. This acidity
IN the juice-nnlcss thoroughly neutral
ized-'s very detrimental to crystaliza-
ton; but after having been neutralized
no difficulty attends the process Of
granting, but presents itself in the scpa-
ration OF the molasses from the sugar,in
the shape Of = gummy substance.
Many cane-growers differ in opinion
as to the best time for cutting the cane.
As stated above, Mr.. Miller deems it
highly essential for making good syrup,
and sugar especially that the cane shold
be fully ripe before it is cut. The ex-
perience Of others seems to be in favor
OF cutting the cane while the seed is in
the slough" If cut in the latter stage.
no doubt . larger yield of syrup will be
the result, but it is pretty well establish
I'd that the quality Of the article will be
inferior and more especially will it be
found to contain that peculiar ascidity
or twang which has been deemed a &C.
rious objection to the Chinese sucri.-
We think the facts in the case bear out
Mr.. Miller in the opinion that the best