Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-01-31
Chinese Sugar Cane-Its Cultivs-
ton becoming General. :.

ton becoming General.
We have long been waiting for some
thing practical on this matter of Chimes,
sugar cane. AT length we find genera
account rendered in the Chicago Tribune
too extended however for our columns: we
therefore give the more substantial parts
The results Of the year just closed have
been most satisfactory, though there are
lyet difficulties to overcome. Some coun-
ties in Illinois and Iowa have raised and
manufactured enough for their home use
near 100000 gallons of molasses were
maze in Vermillion County, and in Mercer
County the home product was quite suffi-
cient. Accounts rendered from all parts
Indicate growing and healthy confidence
in sugar cane, as one Of The surest staples
of the northwestern States. The writer
Igiyes the following account Of Sugar
Cane Mill he saw in Will County, H.:
Mr. Luce's mill commenced running Sep
TENDER II, and finished Nov. II. During
thirty days of this period, it ran constantly
through the twenty-four hours. His run
ming expenses he considers to have been
twenty-five dollars q day. He requires The
services of an engineer, fireman, three
men to tend the crusher, one to attend the
boiling pan, besides his own oversight and
labor; and also team to haul the cane
His engine is a high pressure Of twenty
horse power, running the crusher, and sup
plying the steam for boiling. He has in
vested in the fitting up of his building and
machinery two thousand dollars. This is
his first year at manufacturing, and he is
gratifed with the result.
During the seventy days his mill has
been at work, he has manufactured twelve
thousand five hundred gallons Of syrup.
| The syrup made by Mr. Luce this year
is thick syrup, not well refined, fine par
ticles Of vegetable matter being visible in it,
and with a perceptble taste or twang. 1t
! is retailed by Mr.. Caswell, grocer, at Jol-
let for fifty cents a gallon, and meets with
much sale. Mr.. Adams, of the National
Hotel at Joliet, has used it on the table
during the season for buckwheat cakes, and
finds it to give satisfaction.
TIME AND METHOD OF GATHERING THE
CANE.
1t is supposed that at certain stages Of
its growth, the saccharine matter most
abounds in the cane, and it is laid down in
/ the books that the proper time for cutting
/ it, is when the cane and seed have fully ri.
pened. But Mr. Luce has found in bis ex-
perience that he derives the greatest yield
Of syrup from the cane which is cut while
the seed is in the dough-" at this stage
the seed may be termed "ripe;" for it will
terminate, and wheat and oats cut while in
this stage weigh more than if the straw be
allowed to become fully ripe.
1t would seem that this stage would be
the best for cutting sugar cane, since the
juice, at this time, ceases to ascend from
| the ground, and the juices Of the stalk 60
to the perfection of the seed-head and Of
the woody fiDers, and in this way much
saccharine matter may be diverted from the
stalk.
Mr.. Luce also believes that the greater
part of the seed-end should be cut off, and
that not more than the lower half of the
stalk will pay to manufacture from. He
thinks that not only is there about the same
yield, but that the syrup produced is Of
much better quality, and more free from
that peculiar flavor Of Sorghum Molasses
which is supposed to be derived from the
vegetable juices of the cane.
AS soon as gathered the cane should be
ground, for if piled up and corded it is apt
to heat and ferment Mr. Luce lost much
syrup doubtless from being obliged to stack
the cane while it was being hauled. If
stacked, itshould be carefully sheltered from
the sun and rain.
! EFFECT OF FROST.
Mr.. Luce deems it very essential to cut
the cane before it is affected by frost. He
thinks that if from untoward circumstances
its growth should have been backward, It
is better to cut it when half ripe. rather
than risk the effect Of a frost.
Others, however, say that ,he frost itself
does not hurt the cane in the least, if it can
be kept frozen, and not allowed to thaw
before using.
n-.r- Tho Nav YORK. Eeader piyes a