Year: 1863

Communicated


EDS. STATESMAN II notice in the last num-
Der of your paper a very sensible article on the
subject of growing the Sorghum and Imphee su-
gar plant. This is subject which if properly
brought before the farmers of this valley that has
more ofreal interest to them than any matter that
could be presented at this time. Having spent the
prime of my life in the growing of the sugar
plant, and having not only studied the science of
its growth and cultivation but also the science of
its manufacture, for term of twenty years. l
feel assured from the evidences have seen of its
growth in this valley that it can be successfully
grown here although have not seen any grown
here that would warrant the assertion that it
would fully mature in this climate, but l believe
it would if planted in a warmer soil than that
saw growing, which was grown by Col. Craig
near this town, in 1862 The ground on which
that was grown was evidently too moist 1t con-
tinued to grow until the frost came and never cast
its flags until they were killed by the fross. But
it gave conclusive evidence that if planted in
warmer soil and earlier in the season it would
have given a yield, according to my estimate, of
two pounds of saccharine juice to the stalk
94080 pounds. This, if the plant natures 5 feet
from the ground andcasts its flags at 7 feet, will
give two ounces of good syrup to the pound, ma
king 1885 pounds of syrup, which will weigh
twelve pounds per gallon, making 92S gallons
per acre. This, at 75o PEI gallon gives $685.
the proceeds of an acre. Now, Mr.. Editor, each
good hand can cultivate ten acres but it will re-
qure a force of at least four hands to the acre in
the cutting and manufacture of the same-which
will require two months The necessary buildings,
machinery, brick lime, grout building, and the
tyleing of the kettles on such scale that will
boil one thousand gallons per day, will require
capital of $4,000, which, by the way, will not
cost fifty cents more than on a scale to manufac-
ture two hundred gallons per day. Now, from
these hints it will be necessary to ascertain
whether the Imphee can be successfully grown
here. This cannot be done by planting at this
season, unless it is a much earlier plant than the
red or green ribon cane, or the Otahita or Gre
ole canes, all of which varieties are grown in
Louisiana. The green ribon, however is only
grown successfully in the Gulf parishes, from
the fact that this plant requires more length of
season to mature and is subject to early frosts
where it is not protected by the salt dews from the
Gulf All the saccharine plants cf which have
general knowledge are more hardy and less Ii
able to be killed by frosts than tAe Indian corn
except it be the green ribon. am satisfied from
the history have of this plant that it can be
planted one month earlier than corn, and should
be planted in February or March. This, however,
will depend very much on the season. There is
one fact VIII chi believe is not very generally
known to the grain and root farmers of this
country and that is this that frosts may kill the
tops of all plants Of this kind, and it will come
with renewed vigor from the root In fact the
universal practice il the south is to plant bien-
nially; the second crop coming much earlier
from the stubble, which is generally called ra-
toon cane the English of " hich is stubble cane,
or what we call here volunteer crop; and 1 be
lieve that in our warmest and dryest SOIL by leav-
ing the tops and cast flags Immediately over the
stub0le Of their respective rows the stubble
would be sufficiently protected to live through
our ordinary winters, and if so, rhe second crop
will be twenty per cent the best, and earliest
yield. But this is all in the prospective and can
only be known by actual experience. But I
would recommend all experimenting on this
plant to plant it as early as can safely be done
for irosts and OF the dryest and warmest land
they have. 1t is said by many writer's on the
subject Of growing this plant that it tlers great


ly. This is common with all plants of that
kind, and they are more liable to tiller the far
ther they are removed from their native soil This
should not be allowed, but prevented III the
same manner that corn is, by breaking off the
succors or most sickly shoots growing from the
same root. Ihave understood that there are
some farmers experimenting on this plant in this
county this season. If so, will take pleasure


in giving any information in relation to the proper
construction of their furnaces the setting and
tyleing Of kettles and the general modus operaa-
dj of the necessary process in the manufacture of
good article. Any information in reference to
this subject can be had by inquiring at the
STATESMAN office. NJ