Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-11-05

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however, rarely sees the cane growing
or witnesses the crude processes Of
sugar manufacture here in vogue, for
the reason that the cane brakes are
usually far away from the beaten paths
Of travel and accessible by devious and
not altogether 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 molasses for
home use or for sale and barter, and 1t
was not infrequent that an excellent
article Of rum was produced from the
same source.
From the wreck Of these great plan
tations after the war the former own
ers and the erstwhile slaves slowly
produced order from chaos. The fact
That the tilling of the cane as we'll 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 SUI
gar industry being largely in the
hands Of negroes. And a picturesque
phase Of our national life is this pur-
suit 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 en-
ployment Of three and four mules to
each plow In breaking the soil for the
first planting Of the cane, and much
valuable ground is wasted, for between
the rows deep furrow or ditch must
be made for draining. In planting,
pieces Of sugar cane containing two or
more "eyes" or joints are placed in
the ground. When fall comes and the
cane is cut, the roots throw out new
branches or 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 stalk
Is exhausted. 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 1t does so regularly along the
Atlantic coast. The yield in the cre-
ole state is about 1000 pounds per acre,
but near Savannah the planters get
1900 to 1000 pounds per acre, equal to
10 to 20 barrels Of syrup. A
good cane will yield over gallon Of
Juice and its height varies from six
to twelve feet. 1t is usual to plant
corn between the rows Of cane, and as
the former Is taken in long before No
vember, when cane is ready to cut, the
two make good companion crops.
When the cane is ready to cut be-
gins the happy season of the negroes.
The ancient cane mill is tinkered up
and cleaned for yet another period of
barrels are coppered, fur
naces looked after and the boiling ket-
ties secured and polished. The single
mule on the place is attached to the
long sweep Of the mill and begins the
tramp around the circle
worn deep by many earlier generations
Of mules at the same task.
The cane is fed to the vertical roll
ers at a speed equal to the pace of the
motive power, and as the mule is usu-
ally of venerable age and as the ne
gro is rather languid in the movements,
the effect Is very similar to the an
Cient saw concerning the mills of the
gods. However, the Juice quickly
makes its appearance in the funnel be-
meath the rolls and is led to a barrel,
the mouth of which is covered with
coarse cloth, acting as sieve. The
color Of the sap is gray, foamy ash,
and by no means inviting, but it Is
eagerly drunk by the plantation hands,
and in consequence a close watch is
kept upon the precious liquid by the
owner.
From the mill the juice is taken to
The boiling kettles or pans, and after
boilings and skimmings over
ires fed by the refuse cane or trash"
The sap is reduced to a thick. sticky
,emi-huid mass, which is ladled into
nogsheads and set away to cool. The
LIQUID portions Of the sap drip into re-
,eivers and form the molasses so dear
% negroes hearts. The solid residue
6 sugar, none too clean and none too
attractive for others, but all sufficient
% the natives. A general holiday and
usually follows the close
II sugar making, and in the degree
hat the out-turn has been satisfactory,
he fun swells or GIBBS.
The chewing or sucking of green
zane Is a universal habit in the sugar
belt and the juicy stalks take the
place of sweetmeats in many an hum
,le cabin, while forming dainty by
10 means despised in higher circles.