28 THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 



Newton. I may add in another place letters 

 from gentlemen who tested the article made by 

 me, and shall give testimony from other states 

 in regard to syrup produced there. 



A great deal of alcohol can be made from the 

 juice of this plant, whether grown North or 

 South ; and it is certainly worthy of attention on 

 this account, as alcohol is used to a great extent 

 for mechanical and other important and proper 

 purposes. In regard .to cider, or the champagne- 

 like drink the juice, when fermented, yields, and 

 the facility with which it can be furnished, I 

 shall have but little to say ; for I very much 

 doubt if any practical good would follow its 

 introduction. But it is a fact that it does yield 

 such a drink. 



Of the juice as a coloring matter, w^hen set 

 with alum, I can only say, from experience^ that 

 I did not fully succeed, the dye not coming up 

 to my expectations in brilliancy ; and though 

 much is claimed for it by others for such pur- 

 poses, still I am not inclined to estimate it very 

 highly. 



Of the waste, or " begass,'' which has been 

 heretofore referred to, I cannot speak from 

 experience ; but I have no doubt it will prove 

 all that is claimed for it as a substance from 



