34 



to assume large proportions in the United States, where corn can be 

 obtained in unlimited quantity. 



Chinese sugar oani:. — A farmer of Stark County, Ohio, states that 

 from a package of Chinese sugar cane, received from this Department, 

 and planted on 28 rods of well-prepared ground, he derived 45 gallons 

 of siruj), equal in flavor to the best New Orleans molasses. With a 

 better mill, he thinks he might have expressed 50 gallons. The pro- 

 duct was at the rate of 257 gallons of sirup -par acre, worth one dollar, 

 local price, per gallon. 



Adulterated sirup. — It has been stated that " sugar drips/' pro- 

 duced by the destructive action of strong sulphuric acid ui)ou starch, is 

 extensively sold and used as " golden sirup." A druggist in JSTew Orleans 

 liroposes as a test a few grains of tannic acid dissolved in a wine-glass 

 of rain water in which has been dissolved a teas[)Oonful of this sirup, 

 or a cup of tea, containing tannic, in which a spoonful of sirup has been 

 dissolved. In either case the liquid will become black and ink-like. 

 The American Chemist answers that the test with tannic acid in tea is 

 totally fallacious, as it is simply a test for iron, wliich would do no harm, 

 but in many cases, as a tonic, might be absolutely beneficial. With 

 this test the pure golden sirup might be rejected and the starch adulter- 

 ation selected instead. 



Live stock in Switzerland. — The number of live stock in Switz- 

 erland in 18(jr> was as follows : Horned cattle, 992,895 ; sheep, 445,000 j 

 swine, 304,191 ; goats, 374,481. Among the best horned cattle are those 

 of Hasli and Uri. These animals are small, but exceedingly robust. 

 The cows of Schwy tz and Appenzell are celebrated for the quantity and 

 quality of their milk. Berne and Fribourg possess animals of colossal 

 proportions, but they do not yield much milk. The cows of Schwytz 

 are perhaps the largest milk-prodncers in Europe, and they are bought, 

 with the bulls of Summentlial, by the rich farmers of the Grand Duchy 

 of Hesse and Ehenish Hesse. ^Of the 992,895 head of horned cattle, 

 027,110 head were milch cows, the product of which is largely used in 

 the manufacture of cheese. 



Improved stock for Utah. — A society has been organized in Salt 

 Lake City to ])r()inote the general introduction and improvement of 

 horses, horned stock, sheep, bees, fish, fowls, &c. Agents have already 

 been sent to the States and to Canada, to make purchases of choice 

 stock. Auxiliary societies are to be formed in different sections of the 

 Territory. 



Eamie production.— Mr. William Hall, President of the ''Ramie 

 Plantation Company of Louisiana," stntesthat great improvements have 

 very recently been made in the machinery for i)rei)aring the ramie. The 

 plant may now be cleaned on the field, the refuse being left for manure. 

 The fiber is then dried, becoming comparatively ]uire, white, and silky, 

 divested entirely' of gum, and prei)ared for baling and for s[»inniug. 

 The improved machinery was, unfortunately, not j)erfected till late in 

 the season, when the ramie had become harsh from a growth of eight 

 months, the tops having been i)artly killed by fiost. It was therefore 

 found impossible to produce the fiber in bulk this season. With these 

 improvements, and one laborer to clean the product of ten acres, Mr. 

 Hall thiidvs one acre will yield at least two tons, making a product of 

 twenty tons to the hand, estinmted to be worth $200 per ton. 



Two joint stock companies for the planting and manufacture of ramie 

 have been organized in Louisiana, one with a working capital of $45,000, 

 the other with a capital of $105,000. 



