No. 6. Experiments in the Manufacture of Corn-stalk Svgar. 



189 



The amount broiielit forward, $19 52 



To six days stripping leaves, &,c 4 50 



This is the whole expense up to the cutting 

 of the stalks. 



$24 02 



It is somewhat difficult to come at the eX' 

 pense I was at in manufacturing the acre of 

 stalks into sugar, so much was done by way 

 of experiment. But as one hundred pounds 

 were made one day, 1 shall take that as my 

 guide, and call it a day's work for two hands 

 to make one hundred weight. 



The amount above brought down, $24 02 



To 12 days" work making sugar at 6s. per diem, 9 00 

 Touseofhorseand wagon, GdaysatSs.perdieni, 2 25 

 To i cord of wood at 12*'. per cord, 1 12 



The whole expense of manufacturing GOO lbs., is $36 40 



Or a fraction more than six cents per 

 pound. 



Some credit might be given for fodder, as 

 a large amount of leaves or blades might be 

 saved with a little extra labour while strip- 

 ping them. The stalks, after being ground, 

 are worth sometliing ; horses and cattle eat 

 them very greedily when they are fresh from 

 the mill. 



Remarks and Suggestions, hij way of Re- 

 capitulation. 



k- 1. If good crystallized sugar of pleasant 

 flavour shall be produced from the cornstalk, 

 I can see no good reason why its manufltc- 

 ture shall not become as universal as the 

 raising of corn. Every neighbourhood can 

 as easily be supplied with its apparatus to 

 make sugar as to make cider. 



2. Corn should be grown so thick as to 

 produce no ears. Some variety of corn that 

 grows very large, like the " Ohio" or "Rocky 

 Slountain," might be best; this latter is well 

 adapted in some respects, as it is very little 

 inclined to ears or leaves ; cutting the tassel 

 will not prevent earing, unless they are all 

 cut and kept cut. The cutting of the stalk 

 may cominence as soon as the tassel is ripe. 

 If the weather is warm, grind immediatelj^; 

 but if cool, or early in the morning-, a little 

 delay is not thought to be injurious. 



3. Lime water is perhaps tlie best for 

 clarifying of anything yet discovered; but 

 some agent that will more effectually cleanse 

 from all deleterious or foreign matter, is ne- 

 cessary. Science, with persevering experi- 

 ment, will no doubt produce this result. 



4. The less time occupied in boiling, the 

 more perfect is crystallization. This is true 

 of the maple juice, and probably more so of 

 the corn-stalk. To boil to advantage, two 

 pans should be provided. 



.5. Any man of ordinary ingenuity, can 

 make a pan in two hours, with no tools but 



cold chissel, punch, hammer and six cents 

 worth of rivets. 



6. I make no doubt that a mill with wood- 

 en rollers would answer a good purpose for 

 a small operation, and small operations are 

 what is wanted ; let no man go into this bu- 

 siness largely until there is more knowledge 

 on the subject. 



A simple mill with two rollers, that might 

 be built for five dollars, would crush the 

 stalk and save most of the juice. No cog- 

 wheels can be necessary; for if you turn 

 one, the other must go. When experience 

 has taught how to clarify, so that we may 

 be sure of a good article, then v.ill be time 

 for more perfect and expensive machinery. 



7. If the result of this enterprise depended 

 on the amount of saccharine matter contained 

 in the corn-stalk, its success would be cer- 

 tain. Estimates that have been made of the 

 amount that might be made from an acre, 

 have probably never been too high. Im- 

 provements in cultivation, and in finding the 

 variety of corn best adapted, will no doubt 

 greatly exceed these estimates. 



8. The expense, as compared with maple, 

 must be much in favour of corn-stalk. Of 

 the expense of growing an acre of corn- 

 stalks, every farmer may judge correctly; 

 then compare the amount of fuel, the amount 

 produced in a day, the expense of fixtures, 

 and it is all vastly in favour of the corn- 

 stalk. Only let the cornstalk sugar have 

 the delicious flavor and the beautiful crystal- 

 lization of the improved maple, and no longer 

 will that pride of the forest be hacked and 

 bored by " wicked hands," to obtain its sap. 



May we not hope that Mr. Ellsworth's 

 forthcoming report will throw much light on 

 the subject! The collected experience of 

 all that have been engaged in the business 

 the past season, will soon be laid before 

 Congress and the people. If Professor 

 Mapes shall fulfil his pledge made in the 

 last report, some scientific and practical in- 

 formation will no doubt be the result. 



With these remarks I submit this report. 

 I have endeavoured to give a faithful and 

 full account of my experiment. I am aware 

 that on some parts of this business I cannot 

 speak as favourably as might be desired ; but 

 for myself, I have no fear of the result of the 

 enterprise. I would beg leave to suggest, 

 that a liberal premium be offered next year, 

 for a given amount of corn-stalk sugar of 

 the best quality. This might stimulate, not 

 only a greater amount, but more careful ex- 

 periment. — N. Y. State Agricultural So- 

 ciety's Transactions. 



Condemn bad traits by practising good 

 ones. 



