Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-11-20

4M - ing of sugar and
w. %.J molasses has long
4>r1 - been favored pur-
suit in Georgia and
asst becoming prominent feature in
,rida, says the New York Recorder.
transient visitor to these states,
viewer, rarely sees the cane growing
witnesses the crude processes of
gar manufacture here in vogue, for
reason that the cane brakes are
ually far away from the beaten paths
travel and accessible by devious and
1t altogether attractive byways.
Before the war almost every planter
Southern Georgia had his cane patch
Il mill. whereby he made his supply
grade sugar and molasses for
use or for sale and barter, and 1t
not infrequent that an excellent
Gle of rum was produced from the
e source.
lions after the war the former own
3 and the erstwhile slaves slowly
reduced order from chaos. The fact
hat the tilling of the cane as well as
he 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 su-
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 pillow in breaking the soil for the
first planting of the cane, and much
valuable ground is wasted, for between
the rows a 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
Ia 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
$500 to 1000 pounds per acre, equal to
Is to 20 barrels OF syrup. A
good cane will yield over a 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 W
and cleaned for yet another period Of
usefulness, 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
monotonous 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 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
Gent saw concerning the mills of thu
gods. However, the juice quickl,
makes its appearance in the funnel be
meath the rolls and is led to a barrel
the mouth of which is covered Will
coarse cloth, acting as a sieve. Fht
color of the sap is gray, foamy ash
and by no means inviting. but it il
eagerly drunk by the plantation hands
and in consequence close watch i
kept upon the precious liquid by tn
owner.
From the mill the juice is taken t,
the boiling kettles or pans, and afte
many boilings and skimmings owe
fires fed by the refuse cane or trash
the sap is reduced to a thick, stick
semi-fluid mass, which is ladled int
hogsheads and set away to cool. Tn
liquid portions of the sap drip into re
ceivers and form the molasses so dea
to negroes hearts. The solid residu
is sugar, none too clean and none 10
attractive for others, but all suficien
to the natives. A general holiday an
celebration usually follows the clos
Of sugar making, and in the degre
that the out-turn has been satisfactory
the fun swells or GIBBS.
The chewing or sucking of gree
cane is a universal habit in the suga
belt and the juicy stalks take til
place of sweetmeats in many an hun
be cabin, while forming dainty b
no means despised in higher circles.