106 THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 



than we can obtain sugar and molasses by raising other 

 crops and exchanging them for these article.-^. 



My own experiments in growing the cane have been quite 

 limited, only going so far as to sow the seed and raise the 

 plants which perfected their seeds before frosts came. I 

 sowed the seed about the middle of May, 1856, and the 

 plants from it perfected their seeds the first week in Septem- 

 ber. I made no attempt to express the juice, and the 

 plants were fed to ray stock when I w^as away from home. 



I have seen numerous accounts of the growth of the cane 

 in different parts of the country, which are all favorable to 

 its cultivation. Bottles of syrup have been sent to me from 

 places widely remote from each other ; and those who have 

 obtained it express the opinion that the introduction of the 

 plant will eventually enable us to supply the market to some 

 extent with the important staples of molasses and sugar. 

 Their conclusions seem to me to be well grounded. 



If the cane does flourish here, upon trial, our ingenious 

 mechanics will soon manufacture mills of various descrip- 

 tions, to meet every want of the cultivator, and at a cost 

 within the means of every neighborhood, at least; so that 

 there is every encouragement to make the experiments, in which 

 your manual will be an important guide. 



I am, very truly, yours, 



Simon Brown. 

 J. F. C. Hyde, Esq. 



