, 
' 
Miyyesora Stare HorricutturaL Socrery. 49 
five years, but did not tell where it came from. I thought that 
eane would degenerate, and sent some seed to St. Louis to be 
grown there. It had been grown in Missouri only two years when 
the short and early stalks became very few, while in Mr. Kenney’s, 
grown from Minnesota seed, the short and early stalks were nearly 
one quarter of the whole. 
Mr. Hollister. It seems strange that this variety should dete- 
rioate in this State if it originated here. The circumstances favor- 
able to its origin should also be favorable to its continued growth. 
Mr. Miller. It mixes with broom corn all kinds of sorghum and 
with Dura, Pampus or Upland Rice. 
History of Early Amber Cane. 
Notz.—Something concerning the history of this variety since 
the meeting adjourned has been obtained from Mr. Elliot. It is as 
follows: . 
Duwrertu, Ind., Feb. 20. 
Wyman Elliot: 
Dear Srr—Your favor of February 12 is just at hand, and contents noted. 
The history of the Early Amber Cane, as I understand it,isthis: Eighteen years 
ago this winter I went to Europe to select nursery stock, seeds, etc., to add 
to my collection at Richmond. While in Paris I bought of Vilmoin, Andrieux 
& Co., a few pounds of Chinese sugar cane seed, merely requesting the best kind 
they had. A part of this was given to a friend in this county, who was a 
skillful manufacturer of sorghum syrup, and by him planted. I requested this 
gentleman to note carefully whether this was different from and superior 
to kinds already grown here. In the plat so planted, embracing about one- 
fourth of an acre, there appeared one stalk of different habit from the rest 
during its growth, and that ripened_its seed by the time the remainder was fully 
in bloom. The seed from this stalk was carefully saved, and planted the next 
season at some distance from any other cane, so as to prevent admixture. This 
crop ripened much earlier than any other cane had heretofore been known to do 
in the neighborhood, and when the cane was manufactured the syrup was found 
superior in taste, to any heretofore produced. On account of its earliness and 
the beautiful amber'color of the syrup, I named it Early Amber. I do not believe 
the name was ever applied to any cane until I applied it to this. There is an 
apparent want in the chain of pedigree here that is easily explained. At the 
time the first crop of Early Amber was worked up here, a young man from North 
Carolina named Lindley was employed by the gentleman who grew and made up 
this lot, to assist in the sorghum works, and this workman seeing the value of 
the new kind of cane, saved and carried back to North Carolina a fine lot of 
Early Amber seed. From the product of this se:d carried back to North Caro- 
lma, seed was again brought to Wayne county, Indiana, and introduced as early 
Carolina sorghum. It was seed of this, grown by Mr. Conley, of Wayne county, 
Ind., that I first advertised’as Early, Amber, though I knew of the origin of that 
4 
