Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-02-14
From an Essay prepared by l.. Meacham, Du
Page County, Ill.
CHINESE SUGAR CANE.
CHOICE or GROUND.

As the sugar cane ''from their saccha-
rine qualities possess strong affinity
for the salific earth, and are apt to ab-
sorb the, efrom, properties which mater
,ally retard capitalization, it Is highly I'M
portant that care be taken in the choice
Of such soils as are adapted to the devel-
opment Of the sacchsrine principle IN
the highest perfection, rather than those
which yield rank growth Of stalk, or
excessive quantity Of juice"
Those lands which are accounted best
tor corn, as rich aIluvian., are less desir-
able than rich upland sandy or grav-
ely loan, or dry light bottom. And as
the ssccharine development depends
much on light and heat, sunny expos
ures are to be chosen where attainable.
10 fact almost any Of our dry light soils
will do well where proper care is ex-
pended in preparing the ground. We
have reports OF fair growth of stalks
and sweet juice, from fields which would
hardly yield corn enough to pay tor cnl-
tlva,ion. Good land, il the right quality,
is much better than poor 1t would be
short-sighted policy to plant cane on
very unprodnctlve ground.
We are assured by reliable authority
that cane grown on some Of the tine
soils Of Kentucky, where lime is abund-
ant, yields gallon Of syrup to four OF
juice. Cold, wet grounds in other cases
have brought juice so watery as to re-
qnire eight or ten gallons to make one
of syrup. In lands where there is de-
ficisncy OF lime, surface application is
recommended. In the application Of
nanures, much care should be exercised
and those of rank as we'll as amonia-
ted character should be specially avoid
ed. There is little land in our vicinity
which needs enrlching for the produc-
ton of sugar cane, and more which needs
rather to he somewhat exhausted.
PREPARATION For PLANTING.
"The usual mode Of preparing ground
for corn will be found to do we'll with
cane; but recollect that deep culture lie
worth Two weeks growth TO your plants
aud should never be neglected. The
termination of the seed may be hasten
ed several days by soaking twenty four
hours in tepit water, before planting, in
which saltpe,e, has been dissolved, say
about the proportion Of one ounce to six
gallons OF water. Let the water be
changed two or three times during the
process; after pouring eff the water the
last time, roll the seed in plaster or ash
es plant in the ordinary wav, covering
lightly. As a general thing Sorgho may
be planted few days caller than corn,
there being less danger of the seed rot
ting # followed by bad weather."
From the time Of planting till mid
summer, the progress of the cane crop is
SO slow that some planters become dis
outraged aud appropriate the grounds
planted in cane to other crops, but while
the tops are making little progress the
roots are striking deep into the ground;
hence the advantage Of deep aud
thorough preparation OF the soil. Keep
down the weeds, and when the time
comes it will shoot up with astonishing
rapidty. Vacancies or missing hills can
he supplied by transplanting from hills
where the plant stands too thick.
This is no longer an open question.
as many OF our farmers can testify, WHO
left their cane standing in the field
through the har1 frosts We had in Octo
Der last, and afterwards cut and carried
it to the mi !, and got almost worthless
syrup in return.
When the time comes for cutting the
cane, il it is soon wanted at the mill, let
the top third part of the stalk be cut off
while the cane is yet standing then the
remaining part of the stalk should be
cut Is near the ground as convenient,
and laid in pies suitable for binding
Let it be snugiy bound, and if it is not
soon to be worked up, it should be put
into building or shed, or secured il
come way from the charging tempera-
ture of our autumnal weather and
storms. If the caue Is cut at the proper
time, and properly secured when dry,
it may be kept in good condition long
time, and produce satisfactory results
when worked at leisure. Cane should
be handled carefully, for it it is broken,
or the stalks marrcd in any manner, the
juice soon sours. The chemical change
which takes place in such cases is very
marked and decided.
THE TIME OF CUTTING.
1t is said that sugar cane should be
thoroughly ripened, but when the design
is only to make syrup; this is not 20 cs-
sential, but for sugar making it may be
considered the only condition in which
good crystals Of sugar can be obtained
from the cane, and then only the lower
part OF the stalk should be used. It is
also said by some that cane should be
cut as soon as it is ripe. But a. a gen.
erai thing in this latitude 90 little time
Will e'apse between the ripening Of the
cane and the 6rst frosts that little danger
need be apprehended, provided the cane
Is cut and secured before frost and here
let me remark that cane must absolutely
De cut before frost strikes it unless 1t can
De cnt aud worked up immediately after.
otherwise It will soon sour and spoil.
The sugar cane manifesto . DISPOSE
ton 70 end up tillers from the roots. Of.
tQn timAa M ,nanv =. - - :