^ ) THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 



"which properties will be treated more in detail 

 hereafter. 



First, in regard to obtaining suBgar from this 

 cane. But little has been done yet, it is true, 

 though sugar has been made from it both in 

 France and in this country, so that the matter 

 is not at all in doubt ; the only question being, 

 whether it will supersede the old cane in the 

 South, and can be profitably cultivated at the 

 North. The writer made a small quantity of 

 sugar this season, which, though of a dark color, 

 for the want of knowledge as to the course that 

 ought to be pursued, yet fully proved to his 

 mind that all that is wanted is experience, to 

 obtain sugar of the best quality, and in liberal 

 quantities. It is thought by some that it can 

 never be profitably raised for this purpose north 

 of New York. Time alone must determine this. 

 If there were never a pound of sugar made north 

 of that state, still the cane would be of immense 

 importance to the North, on account of its other 

 valuable properties. But it is presumption to 

 say that sugar cannot be made from it ; for, if 

 such syrup can be produced as the writer will 

 show he has obtained from this plant, then it 

 must follow that sugar can also be produced. I 

 am perff^ctly satisfied that it may be profitably 



