1862.] J^J*! [Emerson. 



some of the seed of this Chinese sugar-cane, procured from M. Vil- 

 morin. These were distributed throughout our country, and have 

 been the means of bestowing upon it the rich returns we are now en- 

 joy i»g- 



Though so valuable as a sugar-producing plant in Northern cli- 

 mates, its value does not stop here. In its green state, it yields the 

 greatest amount of rich, succulent forage to the acre of any other 

 plant, being eminently adapted to resist droughts. Previous to 

 sugar-making, a large amount of fodder is stripped from its tall 

 stalks, and cured for winter forage. The seed, which are abundant, 

 are excellent for feeding to poultry and farm stock, and even for 

 making into bread. From the hull of the seed, a rich purple with 

 other tints have been extracted, formerly unknown in Europe. For 

 feeding purposes, the seed products are fully equal to an oat crop from 

 the same measure of gi'ound. As an alcoholic producer, nothing else 

 can compare with it, and this now appears to be the chief purpose 

 to which it is consigned in Southern Europe and Algeria, where it 

 is extensively cultivated. The spirit yielded by the first distillation is 

 fully equal, if not superior to what can be obtained by double distilla- 

 tion from the grape, which for this purpose it has almost superseded. 

 The necessity of the cereals to be used as bread, led to a prohibition 

 of their distillation, but their place has been unexpectedly supplied 

 by a fiir better alcoholic material. In the United States, the sugar 

 products have been mainly sought after, and common farmers are now 

 turning ovit the richest of syrups in millions of gallons, twelve pounds 

 to the gallon, each capable of furnishing seven and a half pounds of 

 crystallized sugar. But little capital or skill is required, and the com- 

 mon farm mills to press the canes, and newly invented evaporators to 

 reduce the fresh juice to syrup, cost comparatively little. The whole 

 apparatus to make one hundred to one hundred and fifty gallons of 

 syrup a day, can be obtained for about the price the farmer pays for 

 a good grain thresher, say 1200 to ^250. The improved evaporators 

 reduce the fresh juice to thick syrup in the almost incredible short 

 time of twenty to thirty minutes, and at an expense of less than 

 fifteen cents per gallon. The bagasse, or residue of pressed cane, 

 after being dried, is made into bales, and finds a ready market at the 

 paper mills. 



Though the richest land will produce the larget canes, the saccha- 

 rine product is not always in proportion to the weight of the cane. 

 Vegetable mucilage with nitrogenous matters often take the place of 

 sugar. Hence, soils of moderate fertility will often yield more sugar 



VOL. IX. — Q 



