84 THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 



generally up. When about a foot in height, it 

 encountered a violent hail-storm, which seriously 

 damaged its growth, so that it is doubtful 

 whether the seed is sufficiently ripe to be relia 

 ble ; and we shall accordingly secure a supply 

 for ourselves and others, to whom we have prom- 

 ised it, from Washington or elsewhere. Prefer- 

 ring securing the seed to experiments in sugar- 

 making, we allowed our cane to stand beyond 

 the proper season for the latter purpose, and 

 after gathering it stood several weeks before 

 used. Last week, finding election over, and no 

 firing to do, and but little to interest us in the 

 papers, we essayed to convert the product of six 

 hills, planted like corn, into molasses. We run 

 thirty-two stalks through a hay-cutter, and with 

 our standing press and a cheese-hoop took there- 

 from three quarts of clear and rich juice, which, 

 being boiled to the consistence of sugar-house 

 molasses, yielded one pint. The flavor is very 

 agreeable, and the color and appearance nearly 

 that of honey ; and it is the universal opinion of 

 those who have tested it that it is superior to 

 any Southern molasses." 



I will next give the success of one of my 

 neighbors, and an esteemed friend, Mr. Jonathan 

 Stone, of East Newton, who raised some of the 



