1856.] The Chinese Sugar-Cane. 587 



being flattened with the roller, and obtained about half a gill of sap, 

 ■which was as sweet as any of the sap of the sugar-cane of the South. 

 I intend, Providence permitting, to plant at least half an acre next 

 spring, and procure a proper mill and boilers, and make a thorough 

 experiment." ♦ Jos. McKee. 



JunOj Lumphin Co.^ Ga.^ Sept.^ 1856. 



The same characteristic of this plant that makes it valuable as a 

 fora"-e crop — i. e., the large per cent, of sacharine matter contained 

 in its composition — renders it perhaps still more important as a siigar- 

 yielder. It was in view of its adaptations to the production of sugar, 

 that the French government directed the importation of this plant 

 from China into France, where it has been cultivated for this pur- 

 pose with gratifying success. As our common sugar-cane of the 

 South can not be reared beyond a certain limited range of latitude, 

 whereby our sugar raising districts are confined to particular regions 

 of comparatively limited extent, it would be a national benefit of in- 

 conceivable value, to furnish a plant that should enlarge this sugar- 

 yielding region to an indefinite extent. This, the Chinese Sugar- Cane 

 at present, promises to do for us and the world ! The magnitude of 

 the blessings of such a boon, surpasses the capacity of human con- 

 ceptions to comprehend ! 



That the present promise of this plant, in this sugar-yielding par- 

 ticular, is not without reasonable foundation of fulfillment, seems 

 evident from the facts already communicated. For, in the first 

 place, it is found to be capable of successful and ready acclimation 

 throughout all the temperate zone, and within the tropics will prob- 

 ably flourish as a perennial, as Col McKee suggests. And, in the 

 second place, the abundant wealth of sacharine matter in its compo- 

 sition, places it beyond rivalry as a sugar-yielder. 



Of its ready acclimation we have spoken above ; of its sugar- 

 yielding properties we now proceed to speak. It will be remember- 

 ed by the readers of our August number, that in Mr. Orth's report 

 — in Indiana — he states, in this particular, that he "cut six stalks, 

 placed them successively upon a flat board, took a rolling pin, and 

 as well as this simple machine enabled it to be done, expressed and 

 saved the juice. The result was, I obtained two table tumblers full 

 of juice. But the half was not saved. This was boiled down, and 

 produced one of the same tumblers half full of good, pleasant-tasted 

 molasses, about as thick as the common molasses obtained in the 



