Art. XI.— CHINESE SUGAR CANE— MORE FACTS. 



In view of the great and growing interest in behalf of the Chinese 

 Sugar Cane we publish the following taken from an Illinois paper, 

 in addition to what we have already said on this subject: 



The statement, as will be seen, gives the experiment of 3Ir. Grom- 

 of Illinois, touching the sugar-producing qualities of this plant. 

 Mr. Grom says : 



On the 25th of May I planted about half an acre of ground, one 

 year old. A portion of the soil was low and wet in the spring ; in 

 fact I covered the seed with mud, the other part was high and sandy ; 

 the consequence was when dry weather set in, the wet part baked 

 hard, and the high burnt up for want of rain. I plowed it when about 

 ten inches high, and that was all the working it got, with the excep- 

 tion of a slight hoeing previous to plowing ; my object was to ascer- 

 tain the amount of saccharine matter contained in the stalks, and 

 supposed enough would grow to make the experiment. Many of 

 the stalks grew from sixteen to twenty feet high, (in the low ground 

 it only grew twelve feet.) Having made a mill in which to grind it, 

 I commenced on the 24th of September. The cane then received 

 two or three frosts, which slightly injured the taste of the water. I 

 am convinced that the amount of stalks I used, can be grown in less 

 than a quarter of an acre. The amount of water obtained from the 

 piece was two hundred and seventy gallons, from which I made forty- 

 five gallons of molasses, v-liich in favor and heautlful bright red color, 

 is far superior to any obtained from the South. I did not try to grain 

 any of it, as it will not grain after being frosted ; but I am convinced 

 there will be no diificulty in graining it if tried previous to the frost. 

 If it is planted by the middle of May, it will ripen by the end of 

 August, and remain in good condition until frost, and if cut up and 

 put in sheds (in apprehension of frost) it will keep well for a month 

 or more. 



I will give a statement of what may be made '^ acre, judging 

 from the amount of water obtained from each stalk. One of my 

 neighbors, Mr, A. Began, obtained from seven choice stalks, one 

 gallon of water, and another trial made by Mr. McCleary, Sr., 

 and myself, pressed from ten stalks one gallon and a quart. The 

 number of stalks in a hill should be from four to six. In my 



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