The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-07

u.v;,, an interest common with many OF
~ fslIows in the suearcane enterprise, and
knowing the importance OF practlcai Kho"ieoge
+, the snccessfal cultivation and management
of the cane. will submit to those who are ihte-
rested the following hints and observations:
From NV experience with the cane plant
found it much harder than that OF Indian corn
enduring wet weather, frOsts and droughts al
most with mpunity. -.
In regard to the SOIL it makes not much DIFF
ference about the kind, if only nice. large stalks
are desired-but. for making sugar and syrup,
much depends upon the character OF the SOIL Oh
which the cane Is grown. The land TO be pre-
ferred for cane should have calcareous suDsoii,
containing lime. Land that has rich ana
mucky soil grows the largest canes, but tneh
such canes have proportiOnably less saccharine
matter than the slender canes which are raiseu
upon calcareous or sandy soils. Such land ilat
is too poor for remunerative crop Oh c"fh'
can bring profitable cane crop. :.
The following special manures can be applied
TO much advantage: Lime and leached wood
ashes Used as topdressing. Unrotten stable
manure. especially horse manure, should DE
Stunned a. IL is detrimental to the development
o. saccharine matter.
Before planting cane, which should precede
corn. the ground ought to be ploughed well and
deep and made a. pliable a. can be; have the
seed soaked in tepid water for few days pre-
voas to planting; this will hasten its coming
up very much then plant it in drills three-and-
a-hai or four feet apart
Tn rows # at all convenient, should extend
north and south, an arrangement that VIII adj
nit the most sunlight, which is highly neces
sary to develop the saccharine property OF the
cane plant. The seed should be dropped so I'M
sparingly that the stalks will not be over six or
eight inches apart. Experience shows that
small canes contain, in proportion, much sweet
er juice than large ones. II the ground Is IN
good condition, the seed ought not to be cover
ed much over half AN inch. BE sure 10 plant
thick enOugh-and should you not have good
stand" you can get good stand by trans
planting.
In the spring OF IS many OF my cane plants
were washed away by inundatiOn rains, yet |
obtained a good stand by the above suggestion.
Sugar cane requires about the same cultiva-
ton as corn. Early attention is very essential
to insure an early crop. Under no crcumstan-
ces, 50 far my experience teaches, would re-
commend the practice of ''suckering" the cane;
the sorgho plant is full of energy, which causes
the parent stalk to send up many tillers or suck
ers these. if taken off, would retard the growth
of the cane, and in many instances, found that
suckered canes would send out suckers ut every
joint, from four to eight, presenting the appear
ance Of little tree.
In the conversion of the cane juice into syrup
and sugar, it is very desirable to take time by
the forelock, so as to get through before or soon
after heavy frosts. If cane is cut before frosts
come and is well covered or housed it keeps
sweet for long time. In working up cane ev
erything should be kept in good order. The
MILL evaporators and everything used in hand
ling the juice or syrup should be kept sweet
and clean. In cooperating the juice shallow
pans should be used. To make light colorcd
and good favored syrup rapid evaporation is
absolutely necessary. Slow boiling, especially
in deep pans, makes dark syrup and Injuries
the flavor In no case should cane be ground
when wet with rain OF dew; the juice is stub
born in boiling down and the molasscs always
of dark color.
Cane for syrup need not be ripe; think it
best to commence working the cane when the
seed changes from the milk into the dough state !;
for sugar maturity is necessary. BY experience
i found that the best syrup could be made with
out using any CHARTERS. have used eggs milk,
white I've, soda, milk Of lime, bullock's blood,
but to no advantage.
am satisfied that the great secret of success
in making syrup lies in good canes, cultivated.
as have suggested, CLEANLINESS good manag
ment and rapid evaporation in shallow pans.
Where all these conditions are attended to- a
syrup will b. produced far superior to the ordi-
nary nj n moasses;'' syrup that can be
eaten witt II upright stomach and a solid in
ward satisfaction.
i made experiments for two seasons with the
sOrgho As a forage crOp-and consider it q good
thing. Ii yielded an enormous amount of fOd-
der To the acre. used to feed stock in the fall
after the pasture became scarce. dry and unfit
to eat Horses and work-oxcn fourished finely
on corn stalks without ANYTHING besides With
nothing but this feed, they did hard work. day
after day, and kept in fine spirits.
For milk cows the cane is par erecilenee. in
creasing the milk very materially in quality as
well IA quantity.
The cane for fodder l sowed broad-cast-a
bushel-and-a-half per acre. When waist high
commenced cutting up-by running it through
straw cutter, then feeding it in large boxes
with little salt on occasionally. Everything
about my farm, chickens and calves. up to
oxen and horses, rclished it with determined
avidity. III Kuter, Independence, Iora,
March 81, 1861, ia Ohio Valley Farmer.