The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-02-16

of the best varieties. In conversation with him
a few days ago, he informed us that he would
be able to put upon the market this fall not
less than 5000 gallons of syrup, of a quality
not surpassed by any sold in this market, as
many who have used it will testify. Counting
this syrup ct one dollar gallon, and estimating
at d fair price, the labor expended in its produc-
tion, we doubt whether any cotton raiser in the
County with the same means will realize as
much clear money for his crop. Mr.. Dean is
prepared with all the latest and most approved
ye advise our friends to see the quality and
price of the article offered by him before send
ing to distant markets, and this advice is appli-
cable alike 10 merchants and people"
INDIAN CREEK, Smith Co., Texas,
Oct. 81, 1870.
j. Editors Reporter: I have often been asked
the question whether cane-raising is as prohta-
BILE as cotton; also my mode Of cultivating it.
For the benefit of your many readers will
give my experience When the war ended, l
was like thousands of my Southern friends,
broken up, and my first thought was to follow
the business that would pay best with the least
labor and capital In 1866 planted the Sor-
ghum cane, and found it better than "king
cotton; but so many were prejudiced against
bought one hundred stalks and planted. 1t did
we'll The next year bought more seed, and
planted one acre. The crop from the acre
brought me 1886. The next (last) year, l
planted three acres the yield was $3.50 per
acre. The drought in August and September
was the cause of the great falling off. have
now Just begun to harvest my crop, and think
I have cane that will make 500 gallons of
syrup per acre, and perhaps will reach 60O.
Portions of my cane were injured by the con-
tinued wet season in the spring. have about
hen acres planted, and feel confident it will
average 300 gallons. Now your readers can
compare the above with their cotton crops for
the last three years, and easily tell which is the
most profitable.
have never tried the cane on upland, but
my neighbor, VIM. Mcclure, has tried it this
year ON common sandy blackjack land, and tells
me it will beat cotton without manure.
- I,have changed my mode of cultivating and
planting little every year. as it has only been
experimental with me. Ny plan for the next
year is to bed up my land with two-horse plow
and open beds with shovel, and cover light
about as we do corn. Cane should be planted
about the last of February or first of March.
L is said by experienced cane raisers that it
should be planted in the fall, but in this coun-
try think spring is the best, especially in
fresh land where there are stumps and roots /;
the wood lice are apt to destroy so much of 1t.
] cut my cane so as to have two sound eyes on
each piece, and drop eighteen or twenty inches
apart l try to have a sprout every twenty
inches when in first comes up, and by harvest
ing time it will be almost solid mass. When
the cane begins to come up, it should be barred
weeds with hoes and in the course of fifteen or
swenty days the dirt should be thrown back to
l. It is not necessary to plow out the whole
Aiddlc, but will be no disadvantage to the cane
+ it is DONE After two or three weeks it
should be plowed out we'll, which will answer
for the blowing 1t should be hoed at least
three times. The principal months for cane in
this country are August and September. Har-
festing comes off the last of October or first of
November. I use 8 common wedding hoe to
suit it. l throw ten or twelve rows together,
letting the tops point to the South. The fodder
will protect it from freeze and give time to strip
and make up at your leisure. A boy ten years
old will strip about as much cane as grown
hand. The cost of Mill and Evaporator for
small farm, say from one to ten acres, will cost
the freight and other expenses will perhaps
run it up to s225 (specie) by the time it reaches
here.
The following table will show the whole cost
of raising and manufacturing the cane. lit
must be remembered that the interest on the
machinery would be no more for manufacturing
ten acres than for one.):
Preparing or bedding land, days work
for man and horse. 25
Taking up and cutting cane to plant, 2
days for Observation-Disclosures. l so
Planting, one days work for man, horse
J will allow two days ploughing to an
swer for the Observation-Disclosures. so
Three days hoeing .................. 25
One day for cutting g......................... 70
Two days for placing in wind-rows. l so
Four days for stripping. g..................... 90
One hand, wagon and team, one day,
(, hauling cane to mill. mill...................... 90
Grinding and boiling, two hands, IS cts.
each, 5 boys to carry up cane and
bear off bagasse, 50 cts. each, for five
days 90 90
Interest on machinery. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 81 90