The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-11
IN SOUTHERN CANEBRAKES
Picturesque Life In tho South
Atlantic StateA
Where the Negroes Revel In thu
sreetness OF the Cane-TAs Sugar
Industry OF Geergia and
Florida.

Wncfe tne Negroes 6evei In thu
srestness OF the Cans-THe Sugar
Industry OF Gesrgia and
Florida.
The canebrakes of Georgia and Flor
ida are but little known, as compared
with the sugar plantations of Louisian,
and Cuba. but the making of sugar and
molasses has long been a favored rur-
suit in Georgia and is fast becoming q
prominent feature in Florida The
transient visitor to these states, how
ever, rarely sees the cane growing OF
witnesses the crude processes or sugar
manufacture here in vogue, for the rea-
son that the capebrakes are usually fan
away from the beaten paths of travel
and accessible by devious and not Alto
gether attractive byways.
Before the war almost every planter
in southern Georgia had his cane patch
and mill whereby he made his supply
of low grade sugar and melasses for
home use or for sale and barter, ard it
was not infrequent that an excellent
article of rum was produced from tie
same source.
From the wreck of these great pan.
tations after the war the former
owners and the erstwhile slaves slowly
produced order from chaos. The fact
that the tilling of the cane as well as
the grinding and boiling Of the juice
had been left entirely to the slaves was
the cause which led to the now general
condition of the Georgia sugar indus
try being largely in the hands OF ne
groes. And n picturesque phase of our
national life is this pursuit as followed
in the south Atlantic states.
The mode of raising sugar cane in
Georgia differs in many respects from
the practice of the Louisiana planters
In the latter state the heavy and wet
soil often makes necessary the employ
ment of three and four mules to each
plow in breaking the soil for the first
planting of the cane, and much valua-
BILE ground is wasted, for between the
rows deep furrow or ditch must be
made for drainage. In planting,
pieces Of sugar cane containing two or
more "eyes" or joints are placed IN the
ground. When fall csmes and the
grain is cut the roots throw out new
branches of suckers, which are known
as ratoons, and these form the begin
ming of the next crop, and SO on year by
year until the vitality Of the stock is
In Louisiana cane must be
renewed every three or four years
while in Georgia and Florida one plant
ing will last for seven or nine years.
In Louisiana the cane rarely tassels,
while it does SO regularly along the At
lantic coast. The yield in the creole
state is about l 900 pounds per acre. but
near Savannah the planters get 1850
to 2,eo0 pounds per acre, equal to 20
barrels of strip. A good cane will yield
over a gallon of juice and its height
varies from 6 to ~ feet. It is usual to
plant corn between the rows Of cane,
and as the former is taken in long be-
fore November, when the cane is ready
to cut, the two make good companion
crops. -
When the cane is ready to cut begins
The happy season of the negroes. The
ancient cane mill is tinkered up and
cleaned for yet another period of use
fitness, barrels are coppered, furnaces
looked after and the boiling kettles
secured and polished. The single mule
On the place is attached to the long
sweep of the mill and begins the mo-
letonous tramp around the circle worn
leep by many earlier generations Of
mules at the same task.
The cane is fed to the vertical rollers
It speed equal to the pace Of the mo-
i've power and as the mule is usually of
age and the negro is rather
aBguid in his movements, the effect is
7ery similar to the ancient saw con-
:erning the mills of the gods. How
,ver, the juice quickly makes its np-
,earance in the funnel beneath the |
oils, and it is led to barrel, the mouth |;
If which is covered with coarse cloth, |
icting as a sieve. The color of the sap |
s gray. foamy ash, and by no means in
'iting, but IL is eagerly drank by the
plantation hands. and in consequence |
close watch is kept upon the precious
liquid by the owner.
From the mill the Juice is taken to
he boiling kettles or pans and after
1any boilings and skimmings over
res fed by the refuse cane or trash
he sap is reduced to a thick, sticky
emi-huid mass, which is ladled inte
ogsheads and set away to cool. The
iouid portions of the sap drip into re-
eivers and forn the molasses SO dear
o negroes hearts. The solid residue i.
ugsr, none too clean and none too at
ractive for others, but all sufficient for
he natives A general holiday and cell
bration usually follows the close OF
ugar-rnakirg. and in the degree that
he turnout has been satisfactory. the
On swells or Gibbs.
The chewing or sucking Of green
one IL a universal habit IN the sugar
eli, and the juicy stalks take the place
{ sweetmeats in many a hunble cab
\, while forming dainty by no means
espised in higher circles.-N. Y. Re
order.