The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-06-04
This will grow in Florida,)
The Sage Palm.
(COncJuded. }

takes place The sifted sage is placed
in a cloth, of which the ends are tied
to long stick, and that is kept ex-
banded in bag.shape by a short cross
stick. A horizontal Migratory motion
is given to this, and the whole mass
being kept in constant agitation and
every part successfully driven along
the sides of the bag. This lasts tor
about a minute, when the now granu-
lar sage is again passed through a
sieve similar to the preceding one,
but the smaller grains which pass
through are those which are re-
iected. Those that remain are trans
ferred to a circular sieve, Of which
the bottom is formed of fine strips
of bamboo crossing each other. The
grains which pass through the square
holes thus produced form the pearl
sago Of commerce i'll the unroasted
state. Those that are larger than
the holes are thrown back into the
heap TO run through the same course
again. To assist the men the oblong
sleeves and the granulating bag are
sometimes suspended by rattans from
the ratters of the shed.
The roasting takes place in a row
of iron pans, each about p feet in
diameter, which are built into a plat
form of masonry about 10 feet long
and feet in breadth, covered with
flat tiles. The pans rest in an IN
clined position, partly against the
back of the platform, which rises
about foot above the level, and part
ly on small prop of brlckwork on
the right side, an otfshoot from the
wall. Into the top Of this prop
plate is sunk in which a cloth saturat-
ed with water is kept. Behind each
pan is an oren furnace mouth, and a
man constantly attends to the fires,
keeping them supplied with a few
billets of hakan wood, and regulating
them with a pronged iron fork,
so as to maintain a moderate heat.
The pan being gently rubbed with
the cloth, man who sits in front OF
it on a low stool on the platform
pours into it quantity of granular
sage. This he slowly stirrs for a
short time with wooden implement,
called weah, having a sharp curved
edge. More sage is poured in until it
amounts to about two chupahs, when,
as it. hardens, he uses the weah more
freely.
After about three minutes roasting
it is removed to table and passed
through a round sieve, similar to that
before described. The grains that
adhere to each other are thrown aside,
and those that pass through form a
smoking heap, which is allowed to
lie undisturbed for about twelve
hours. The grains are about the same
size as they were before roasting, and
some retain wholly or partially their
white and mealy appearance, but the
greater part have become translucent
and glutinous, and Ali have acquired
A certain degree of toughness, al
though still soft. The inal process
is another roasting, which renders
them hard and tough, and greatly re
duces their size. The pearl sage
thus prepared and fit for expectation
is put away in large open tins ready
to be transferred to boxes or bags
when sold.
THE BASTARD SAGO.
The bastard sage (Caryota e~ens.
is a native of the mountainous regions
of India, especially in the Coroman
del and Malabar coasts, and in Ira
vancore, Mysore, and Ceylon. 1t is
one of the largest and most charm
ing OF this beautiful tribe, having q
straight trunk from 40 to % feet
high. Sugar and toddy wine are
both prepared from the sap OF this
palm, which is cultivated by the peo-
pie for those uses. The best trees
will yield 100 plnts of sap in twenty
four hours; and it is on account OF
this productiveness that it is SO much
valued. The sugar and wine are OBJ
tanned much in the same way as
from the juice OF other palms.
Sage is prepared from the pith,
and is either made into bread or
boiled as a thick Cruel. According
to DR.. Roxburgh, The pith or tari-
naceous part of the trunk OF old
trees is said to be equal to the best
saoo. i - | have reason to be-
lieve this substance to be highly nu-
tritious. l have eaten the cruel, and
think it fully as palatable as that
made from the sage we get from the
Malay countries."* This sage is
found to be an efficient substitute fol
~ ctn,Ln tool of tho countries