364 TBANSACTIONS OF THE 



Groton Centre, Con., FeVy 6, 1857. 

 Dear Sir — I forward herewith by my friend, Mr. Hyde, a sam- 

 ple of molasses made from Chinese cane, grown by me last season j 

 and submit the following as the result of my experience in the 

 matter. 



I received from Washington about \ oz. seeds during the spring 

 of last year. About the middle of May I planted in hills as with 

 corn, six in a hill, in a space of about nine inches, the hills being 

 two feet apart. It was on a side hill, southern exposure, light 

 siliceous soil ; season dry and hot. Space employed about eight 

 feet by sixteen feet of ground. The plant came out of ground in 

 fifteen days, and attained in a growth of three months a pretty 

 uniform height of about thirteen feet, while the stocks were about 

 one inch diameter at the base. 



About the 15th September, when the seeds were not entirely 

 ripe, I (fearing frost,) cut two two thirds of the lot, removed the 

 seed, and crushed in an old cider mill witli upright corrugated 

 wooden rollers; and from this imperfect process obtained five gal- 

 lons juice, which I evaporated to one gallon in an iron pot. The 

 molasses I found equal to first quality New Orleans, well charged 

 with sugar granules, is of fine flavor and cooks white. 



The remainder of the cane stood about twenty days longer, du- 

 ring which time had experienced a severe frost, but with no visi- 

 ble injury. The seed had become fully ripe. I cut and proceeded 

 as before. Obtained about same proportionate quantity of molasses, 

 but of better quality, which may have been owing to more careful 

 manipulation. 



The trial gives a result of about 300 gallons per acre first quality 

 molasses. I saved seed to plant fully an acre this year — half of 

 seeds have distributed among my friends — and now having faith 

 in the experiment shall take more care. 



I planted too thick. Shall this year try some seeds in the forcing 

 bed, and transplant. I shall plant in ridges not less than three 

 feet apart, running north and south; and shall keep the plants at 

 least six inches apart, thinning out if necessary and transplanting 

 such as I take up. 



