, 1863-06-06
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
Published Every Saturday MOrning
THE New SUGAR Canes

The New Sugar Canes.
1t should be borne in mind that the new
sugar canes, cultivated in the Northern
States are the Chinese Sorghum and the
African (Imphee. These are the only su-
gar canes which can be grown in the Nor
thern States We have once seen it inti-
mated in an Eastern newspaper, that the
Chinese sugar cane may be the same as the
Ottahete, or Ribbon cane, cultivated in
Louisiana. We have, however, strong
doubts of the correctness of this sugges-
ton. AS we have said, the Chinese sugar
cane tillers much. In the western States
it is a mooted question whether these til
lers or suckers, should be removed. They
mature as soon as the first or main stock,
and are equally rich in saccbarine matter
The African sugar cane does not tiller.-
The plant does not grow taller than its
K Chinese cousin, but is much stouter-less
liable to be prostrated by wind-equslly
rich in saccharne, and some suppose richer
These canes would throw up shoots the
second year from their stumps if cold freez-
ing weather should not kill them. In any
region north of IS north latitude, the
cold weather Of winter viii kill their roots,
unless they are protected by earth SO much
that frost will not reach them
The first mills made in the States for
crushing these canes were rude inventions
in form like the old cider mill l-two up
right cylinders, moving together-prOpel ed
by horse power in the usual manner of
cider mills. These cylinders were made of
hard wood. usually about G inches in di-
ameter, and two and half feet long. The
juice when expressed was put immediately
into large kettles, placed over temporary
furnaces, heated gradually until most of
the scum had risen, and then boiled as rap
idly as possible, skimming all the time un-
til the juice was sufficiently Condensed for
syrup. This process makes a tolerable ar
ticle; but as the experiments proved sue
cessful, cast iron mills and copper and other
boilers, and improved furnaces were in
vented, and are now used to a great ex-
cent. There is no question that in the
states west of the Allegheny mountains
she Chinese and African sugar canes have
become staple crops-the production of
Itch is rapidly increasing.
So far as our knowledge extends, the
greatest yield of syrup to the acre has been
in Ohio, reaching to $50 gallons per acre
u ere it may reach $50 and possibly 200
gallons. But the fact of production here
can only be guessed at That the canes will
crow here-uill mature here-will yield
rich juices here-may be regarded as GER
tain.
Dur correspondent M in the STATES
1IAN of the 23d ult states that he was en-
gaged in TIE cultivation of sugar cane for
twenty years. The cane he operated on
was doubtless that which has long been
cui ;ivated in LOUISIANA. The processes of
convertng the juice of the Northern and
eouthe'n canes into syrup and sugar, have
been found to be, essentially alike-though
tie granulation of the syrup of the North
arn cane into sugar has proved to be more
d.ficut than that of the Southern cane.
We believe that our correspondent M
con give valuable information in regard to
tha proper mills, kettles, &C., for express
ing the juice from the canes and washing
it p into molasses and sugar; and fur
ther communications from him on tEis sub
jeot will be favorably received.
'om all the information we can CLEAN
on ne matter which forms the subject of
This article, we have arrived at the convic-
sion that fair experiment in the cultiva-
ton of the Sorghum and Iinphee in this
valley, and the condensation of their juices
into syrup would prove a success-proft-
able to the cultiyator and of great advan-
tage to the country