Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1863-06-05
From the Southern Cuiiipa!nr.
THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE.

4.
The Chinese Sngac Cane, during this
var. which will "st t'co ycors longer, IS
destined to play an important part in
Southcrn Agriculture, and 10 furnish our
?eopI" aud army with tho only Syrup
wi hln our reach. Tho cxlravaoant pre-
t. nl'onS claimed for it, in lS55-'5G, when
tir>i introduced, and when r"v,,y gave
point and emph isis to enthusiasm, may
now he considered Obsolete; and hencefo;,h
Tins rlahh Will rank, according TO its i'll
trlnslc M rit, for its forage and Syrup
properties. During the Eiockadr, it will
Poy 6cfter than any crop grown, except
Tobacco, and furnish Il yield of Syrnp
nearly equal to that Of the West Indi,
Sugar Cane. Therefore, it, proper culture
and nannf:'c,"'e into Syrup should be
genera Is k .own.
ls;. Its Cuilure.--If convcniont,> select a
rich sandy loam, or such lands as are com.
m"nr known as Xummocks, or aluvial
sandy bottoms. Where this can't be done
any 'and will do. Which will make corn,
WI precisely similar results, as TO ylcl,1,
except, 'mat n no case are hard ST ciayrv
lah,.S suited to i!i plant 1t is true. a.! i
bear 1t in mind. that y'nr land planted
will " ld rs many gallons Of ,Sorgho
'Syr"p per acre, as 1t w'"ud pecks Of
corn.
Break up your lana broad cast with
turn p'ow>, or furruws four feet apart
Scootcrs drill one peck OF seed to the acre
continuously in these rows, AMI cover with
scooterS, by running up one side and down
the other. In eiyht duyS knock off the
drill rows with boards, fplantel in March,
or III Jfre days if in April, anl at any lime
alter hard rain, before the earth bakes.
This will ensure q good stand. | have
l2O acres, mostly planted this way, on
;he 2lsi and 23d oi March, an The stand
IS erccilcnt, the plants coming up in IT to
Il days, after flooding rains and much cold
weather.
Where seed are very scarce, lay off The
drills four feet apart, drop to 10 seed
every foot apart, and cover with the foot
lightly. If you plant in April or May aud
the ground is damp, soak the seed "a
hours before planting.
AS the Chinese Sugar MilIet natures its
seed and stalks IN .fct months, you may
plant from goth Of March, TO the 15M Of
-hay, b"r as IN case with all cereals, in
tins latitude. the earlier the better.
The first w,rking is both delicate and
'mror'ant. The plan, now is small, re-
sembles grass, and Of slow growth. Bear
IN mind, yomr object, noa0 is to Glenn the
drills. and get good stana, upon which
your success fur a large crop esseu' ally
depends. Here tn" cultiva,or must use
hi good senSe anH judgment, and either
pu the hoes before the plo~s, If very
grassy, MS the condition Of the Iaad may
iulicate.
J" This way, he mus, hoe and pL,w i, oil,
TO Sfdnd say two or ihrc;. Stuiks every
II or | 6 'nrh. :. or to one stnih ,y.ry !;
inches. insist that this is the prnpcr
cal "'r, AS anai",t the old ,ur,!r oi plant
ing in checks and giving greater ,;sta,:cc.
| h:.v" proved it by experience, aud
h"sr!es, all The characteristic: a.aoeirs
OF tie tntire miiirt family sanct on rhi~
culture
1t the "stand Is missing," transplant of
rainy days, when the land is Wet. This j.
b. iter than rrp:anling. After tiis. SAY in
ID days, give one deep and t!toroug pIow-
'hg-and once or twice afterwards.
sw''p' aud lay the crop 10y, when waist
high.
End. The Mnnyaciure Of .Sorgho Or
c"Hie"erafe 'Syr"p.--My hirrc,r"ns ere
tor farmers and planters who have not,
canno', and would not get the elaborate
apparatus of ii sugar-hou~e; bu: there are
essential fixtures. DC, whic must lie hat,
to wit: mill, boiiers, a ba;Ing dipp"r Of
wood Of five gallon capacity, with a long
handle, common dirper, aud perforated
tadlcs or skimmers.
The MiN.-Get one mill for 80 acres.
and two for II hu. dred acre, , or more. fLe
$'ze, IL inches IN diameter, and "a ;onp.
tor the cylinders. They should be Of
cast iron the fcnnJ,ies will make them
to order.
The boilers. They should he propor-
'l",cd IN size and numl,er to the ,izc of
the crop, say one FIR 20 ac;es. tspo or thyce
Tor SO acres, and five nr ST. for 100 acres.
more or less. As many as i've or >ix can
nc put IN one "bat.cry," and be orera,"d
by one furnace. iurr;r;y un!er ali. The
capacity OF the boilers can be eenera,l;.
lnc' eHsed, by fastening q woo!en rim. 8 or
10 inches high around their top. The
brick work Of the furnace shoud rot reach
h'gh' on the inside than midwnv of the
o"i'ers, otherwise the syrup will be burnt
5y the fire.
The cane should not be cut until ripe,
which may be known by the seeds becom-
ing OF a purplish black, and the stalks
streaked with red on ycllowi.h ground.
1t IS well to know and rccollecr that the
coneS, if left standing on the land where
they grew, with all their leaves or fodder
on them, will keep good until the crop is
MANUFACTURED, if you will barely cut off all
The ripe ed. Ifyou pull the fodder the
canes will dry up, it being the mouth and
lungs Of the plants.
The gathering of the canes.-PuIl the
fodder as you do corn fodder, each day
as you grind your canes. Cut the stalks
close to The ground with sharp hoes, and
haul them to the mill with the seed on,
with small crop, but cut seed off in the
field if large one, dry the panicles in the
ssn one day and house. The seed will