234 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



" From twenty-four good canes we got six quarts of juic 

 (one-half pint from each cane,) from which we made two turn 

 biers full, of which No. 2 is one of them. From four quarts of 

 juice, measured, we made yesterday, the 22d, two tumblers 

 full, of which No. 3 is one of them. 



" From these samples and statements you will see, that the 

 riper the cane the better the sirup, the sweeter the juice. From 

 one single cane we obtained three gills, by measure, of which 

 No. 4 is a part, as pressed from the cane. These samples are 

 made simply by straining the juice and boiling it down. 



" I have one-eighth of an acre which I intend to manufecture 

 should it get sufficiently ripe. 



" The season has been a very unfavorable one to test the prac- 

 tical»ility of its cultivation. Should it mature here, and I think 

 it will in most seasons, I have no doubt a good article of 

 molasses may be made from it with little expense. You will 

 find in the hall some of my canes twelve feet five inches high. 

 There can be no doubt that the cane is valuable for feeding 

 stock. My crop was planted about the 27th of May." 



Francis Whiting. 



NORFOLK. 



From Ihe Report of the Committee. 



The introduction of the Chinese sugar cane is, in the minds of 

 many, considered most valuable, either as feed for stock, or for the 

 manufacture of sirup. Out of New England it has proved a valu- 

 able and remunerative crop, both for fodder and for the manufac- 

 ture of sirup. From the little experience your committee have 

 had on this subject, they do not believe its culture advisable in 

 this section ; at least, such was our experience the past season, 

 which was cold and wet, and probably served to retard its growth. 

 As a crop for fodder, it has not proved equally valuable with 

 Indian corn, and the cattle fed witli the two have invariabl}^ 

 chosen the fresh cut corn. This we have repeatedly noticed, and 

 are not willing to give countenance for the encouragement of its 

 growth to the exclusion of Indian corn as a crop for green 

 fodder. 



