Q37 
AMERICAN AGrRICULTURIS'l 
What of tSie Climese Sugar Cane 1 
Every day’s mail now brings us a number of reports— 
many times too numerous for publication. These are mostly 
encouraging as to the present growth and prospects of the 
crop, but we consider a decisive judgment upon its merits 
as yet premature, that is, as respects its profitable adapta¬ 
tion to sugar-making at the North. That it is valuable 
as a forage crop, in any place where Indian Corn w ill 
grow, may be considered a fixed fact. Abundant experi¬ 
ments will be made during this month, with sufficient ac¬ 
curacy to show how far north it will be available for su¬ 
gar or syrup. In the Southern States, success has al¬ 
ready attended the efforts of those w ho have tried it for 
making sweetening in the form of syrup. A planter in 
Texas sent 65 casks of Chinese Sugar-Cane Syrup to the 
New-Orleans market, where it commanded a high price > 
for its good quality. Similar reports come from other 
Southern localities. 
Our own crop is far exceeding our expectations, which 
were not very hopeful, as a part was planted just before 
the long May rains, and a part after, or not till June. The 
last planted stands now nearly or quite 14 to 15 feet high 
over the field. It will probably be ready for grinding about 
Oct. 10, or before. 
From the Northern Counties of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois 
and Iowa, and from some points in Michigan and Wis¬ 
consin, we also learn, by letters recently received, that 
the cane is making a prodigious growth, in many cases 
standing 14 to 17 or 18 feet in hight. From the Northern 
Counties of New-England and New'-York, and from Can¬ 
ada East, the reports are various. The past season has 
been unpropitious to say the least. The Spring was so 
wet and late that the average time of planting was, per¬ 
haps, not until about the first work in June. This, w ith a 
general frost the first week of October, would scarcely 
give time for the ripening of the seed. In some places 
the plants w'ere actually killed by the very unusual frost 
of Sept. 9th. Two or three weeks earlier planting, as in 
ordinary years, would have materially improved the 
chance of the crop. 
Leaving actual experiments this month to decide its 
value for the production of sweetening, we wish to gather 
some general and systematic information in regard to the 
growth of the Chinese Sugar Cane. To accomplish this, 
we invite short, definite answers to the following queries. 
Will our readers in the various sections please note down 
their answers, using the numbers instead of repeat¬ 
ing the question: 
1, Name of experimenter—2, State—3, County—4, Soil 
—5, Manure—6, Month, and about the day of planting—7, 
Month andaboutthe day of heading out—8, Average hight 
at time of heading out—9, Month, and about the day of 
ripening of the seed—10, Average hight at time of ripen¬ 
ing—11, Average diameter of ripening stalks and canes, 
say one foot from the ground. 
These may be answered in this form : 1, Samuel Glov¬ 
er— 2, N. Y. —3. St. Lawrence Co. — 4, clay loam—5, barn¬ 
yard manure — 6, May 21—7, Sept. 16—8, 9 \feet — 9, Oct. 14, 
—10, 12 feet —11, 11- inches. 
If any question cannot be answered, put down the num¬ 
ber and leave a blank. Against No. 9, write “ killed by 
frost,” w ith the date when this happened, if before the 
seeds were, brown. 
If, out of the many thousands who received seed from 
this office, a few hundred persons, in as many counties 
and in the different States and the Canadas, would write 
out and send us a series of answers such as we have indi¬ 
cated in italics above, we could make up and publish a 
table which would be of very general interest and value. 
Who will assist in this matter 1 Let us have both sides— 
the truth is what we are after. 
Note.— As various grades and qualities of seed were 
.-old last Spring, we only invite answers from those who 
received seeds from our office, all of which we tested, and 
know to have been of good quality. 
A Claeap Wooden Sugar Mill. 
Just as we go to press, our Ohio correspondent furnishes 
the following description of his mill: “ I sawed oft' two 
10-inch logs, 8 feet long. These I set 4 feet in the ground, 
a >,<l4 feet apart, making them firm by stones filled in. 
Two feet from the ground I sawed a notch, half way 
through each log on the inside, and fitted in a plank 3 
inches thick, and 13 inches wide. In this bottom piece I 
made too holes for the lower ends of the rollers, which 
were made of smooth hickory logs, trimmed round and 
smooth with a draw-shave. Trie lower end of each was 
fitted into the lower holes, with[a gudgeon. T wo feet from 
this, I cut a collar, or rather neck in the roller, the lower 
side of which corresponded with the upper end of the up¬ 
right logs. I next fitted two pieces of plank, 6-inches 
wide, to the top of the posts, cutting out semi-circles on 
the inside of each, to fit into the nepIts of the rollers. 
These upper planks are spiked down upon the top ends of 
the logs, and hold the rollers in plaee. One of the rollers 
projects above the upper beam about 2 feet, and into 
this is fitted a long lever, the outer end slanting down. 
To this I attach a horse, though a man can easily turn 
it. I am now pressing out the juice finely and boiling 
down the syrup in our maple sugar kettles. We save all 
the scum to make vinegar from.. Will it not make good 
vinegar? [We should say yes.—Ed.] The rollers have 
spread apart a little at the top, but any canes that get 
through without being pressed dry, we pick up and put 
through again in some tighter place. We should have to 
put iron collars on the necks of the rollers if we had five 
acres to grind. The lever split out the mortice in the 
roller the first hour’s working, but I got the blacksmith to 
put on two strong iron bands one above and the other be¬ 
low the entering of the lever, and it has since stood well. 
The greatest trouble is, that one of the rollers often 
stops, and the other slips on the cane, when we have -to 
back the horse and put the cane in at a new place. Were 
I to make a new wooden mill, I would fit in wooden 
cogs like the old fashioned cider mill to make both turn 
together. But I shall next year have a larger crop, and 
get an iron mill.” 
Kaclc N i:mScrs off tlie Present Volume. 
We are very frequently printing extra editions of this 
Volume, back to January, to supply new subscribers com¬ 
ing in from time to time, many of whom wish to go back 
to the beginning of the Volume. Let it be understood, 
then, that those subscribing in July, or at other periods, 
can at any time order the back numbers of this Volume. 
(VTp’ With a single exception, the actual regular circula¬ 
tion of the Agriculturist to subscribers is about Bfiffteen 
Tlioiisa-ittl greater than that of any other Journal in 
the World devoted to Agriculture and Horticulture only 
Mertisenmita. 
TERMS — (invariably cash before insertion): 
Twenty-live cents per line of space for each insertion. 
Byt he column or half column, $30 per column. 
C#* Business Notices Fifty cents a line. 
Advertisements to be sur e of insertion must'be received at 
latest by the 18th of the preceding month. 
NEW WORK! NOW READY: 
§©I£«EM> APf© MPfflEE, 
THE CHINESE AND AFRICAN SUGAR CANES. 
A COMPLETE TREATISE UPON 
their Origin, Varieties, Culture and Uses; their value as 
a Forage Crop, and directions for making- Sugar, Molasses, Al¬ 
cohol, Sparkling and Still Wines, Beer, Cider, Vinegar, Paper, 
Starch and Dye-Stuffs. 
FULLY ILLUSTRATED with Drawings of Approved 
Machinery : with an Appendix by Leonard Wray, of Caffraria, 
and a description of his patented process for cryslalyzing the 
juice of the Imphee; with the latest American Experiments, in¬ 
cluding those of 1857, in the South By 
Henry S. Olcott. 
To which are added translations of valuable French Pamph¬ 
lets received from the Hon. Jolm Y. Mason, American Minister 
at Paris. 
Price One Dollar. 
Sent by mail to any part of the U. S., on receipt of Price 
A. O. MOORE, (late C. M. Saxton & Co.,) 
Agricultural Book-Publisher, 
140 Fulton-st., New-York. 
Just Issued from the Press of 
J. B. LIPPI^COTT CO. 
I. 
CLIMATOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES, 
AND of the 
TEMPERA TE LATITUDES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN 
CONTINENT. 
Embracing a full comparison of these, with the Climatology of 
the Temperate Latitudes of Europe and Asia; with Isother¬ 
mal and .Rain Charts, including a summary of Meteorological 
Observations in the United States, condensed •from recent 
scientific and official publications, by Lorin Blodge’t, author 
of several Reports on American Climatology. 1 vol. large 
octavo. Price $5. 
II. 
MCMAHON’S ‘AMERICAN GARDENER. 
The American Gardener’s Calendar, containing a complete ac¬ 
count of all the work necessary to be done in the Kitchen- 
Garden, Fruit-Garden, Flower Garden, Orchard, Vineyard, 
Nursery, Pleasure Ground, &c. &c., for everv month in the 
year, with practical directions, and a copious Index. By Ber¬ 
nard McMahon. Eleventh Edition. Revised and Illustrated 
under the supervision of J. Jay Smith. 1 vol. 8 vo. Price $2. 
It# - The above works will be sent by mail upon receipt of 
price. J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Philadelphia. 
s 
URE PAY and NO RISK.— Pleasant 
and Profitable Employment may be liad by addressing 
FOWLER AND WELLS, No. 308 Broadway, New-York. 
T® Persons ont of .Employment. 
WANTED—In every county in the United States, active; in¬ 
dustrious and enterprising men, as Agents for the sale, by sub¬ 
scription, of valuable and interest in#Books; all ot them being-, 
expressly adapted to tlie wants of every family, and containing 
nothing of a pernicious or injudicious tendency. Our publica¬ 
tions are among the best in the country, and good agents can re¬ 
alize a profit from $2 to S3 per day by engaging in the business 
A small capital of only $20 to $50 is required. For further par¬ 
ticulars, address ROBERT SEARS, Publisher, 
No. 181 William-street, New-York. 
H OW TO DO GOOD and GET “ PAII 
FOR IT.”—Take an Agency for our publications. Tb 
terms are such there can be no possibility of loss. Every Fam 
ILY will be glad to obtain some of them. For particulars, ad 
dress FOWLER and WELLS, 308 Broadway, N. Y 
w 
ILEY & HALSTEAD, 351 Broadway, 
New-York,have now ready 
DOWNING’S FRUITS and FRUIT TREES OF AMERICA. 
Thoroughly revised, with very large additions,.especially in Ap¬ 
ples and Pears, vnth many new cuts of new fruits. Edited by 
Charles Downing, Esq., brother of the late A J. Downing. 
1 volume. 12mo. Containing over 750 pages. C’oth, $1 50 
The reputation of Mr. Charles Dowing as a Horticulturist, in 
connection with the general popularity of this work, leads us to 
ant icipate a large and immediate sale for this new edit ion. 
Orders’from the Trade and Dealers in Agricultural Works are 
solicited, and will be attended to with promptitude. No copies 
will be forwarded without orders. 
Notices of Former Editions. 
“ Nothing compared with it on the subject of Pomology has 
yet been published in the United States. Unquestionably the 
standard pomological work of t his country.”— Am. Agriculturist. 
“A deliberate examination of the work enables us to say with¬ 
out ‘hesitation, that it is by far the greatest acquisition placed 
within the reach of American cultivators of fruit which has 
ever appeared.”— Cultivator. 
*** Copies will be mailed to any address, and pre-paid on the 
receipt of the price. 
*** Clubs and Societies will be supplied with the work for 
‘Premiums at a discount. 
E MPLOYMENT—Young men in every 
neighborhood may have healthful, pleasant, and profitable 
employment by engaging in the sale of our new and valuable 
books, and canvassing for our popular family journals. Our 
new reformatory books should be placed within the reach ol 
every family in the land. Thousands of copies might be sold 
where they have never yet been introduced. A few dollars—say 
$15 or $25—is enough to commence with. Young men and 
women,‘teachers, clergymen, traveling agents, all may engage 
in this good cause, with profit to themselves and great good to 
others. Our journals are everywhere popular, and canvassers 
will find them well adapted to the wants of the people every¬ 
where. For terms and particulars, address 
FOWLER and WELLS, No. 308 Broadway, New-York. 
T 'HE BEST BOOKS TO SELL.—Book- 
sellers, Agents and Newsmen, will find a quick sale foi 
those new Hand-Books, just, published : “ HOW r TO WRITE”— 
‘‘HOW TO TALK”—“HOW TO BEHAVE”—and “HOW 
TO DO BUSINESS.” Pi ice, free by mail, only 30 cents each, 
or the four in paper, $1. Complete in one large gilt volume, 
$1 50,-now ready Try them. Address 
FOWLER and WELLS, 308 Broadway, New-York. 
'\\T A N T E D—AGENTS TO SELL 
V V STEEL PLATE ENGRAVINGS, including the beau¬ 
tifully illustrated engraving of Hie “ Lord’s Prayer and Ten 
Commandments.” An active person, with a small capital, can 
make $50 t o $60 per mont h. For part iculars, address 
D. H. MULFORD, 167 Broadway, New-York. 
New Hand-Books for Home Improvement. 
HOW TO DO BUSINESS—A New Pocket Manual o 
Practical Affairs, and Guide to Success in the various Pursuits 
of Life. 
For the Clerk. 
For the Apprentice, 
For the Farmer-Boy, 
For the Book-Agent, 
For all Business Men, 
For Everybody. 
In the Counting-Room, 
In the Store, 
In the Shop, 
In the Market, 
On the Farm, 
Everywhere, 
“ How to do Business,” now ready, closes our first series ol 
“Hand-Books for Home Improvement.” It is the most com¬ 
plete work ol the kind ever published, embracing the Principles 
of‘Business ; How to Choose a Pursuit; Natural Qualifications 
Required for Different Kinds of Business; Education; How to 
Buy and bell; How to Gel Customers and Keep them; How tc 
Manage a Farm or a Trade; How to Canvass and Get Sub¬ 
scribers; The Causes of Failure; How to Succeed; Book- 
Keeping; Commercial Forms; Practical Rules, Hints and 
Maxims, etc. Price, post free, 30 cents; muslin, 50 cents 
Sent by first mail to .any Post-Office,Jjy FOWLER AND 
WELLS, No. 308 Broadway, New-York. 
“How to Write,” “How to Talk,” ‘How to Behave,” and 
“ How to do Business,” same price. The four books, in paper, 
sent for $1; in muslin, $1 75. In one vol., muslin, $1 50. 
r]pHE ORIENTAL HORSE CHARMER— 
JL This valuable little work, on Raising. Breaking, Train¬ 
ing, Riding, Driving, Stabling, Feeding and Doctoring Horses, 
is daily being mailed to applicants to all parts of the United 
States Send on your quarter for one, or SI for 6- copies, and 
you are sure to get it by return of mail. Books on this subject, 
containing no more, have been sold, and are now selling, for $5 
to $10. Address C. J. ELDRIDGE, No. 83 East Third-street, 
Cincinnati, O. 
The Best Thing of its Size and Price—By Mail. 
HP HE ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGIS- 
.J- TER OF RURAL AFFAIRS for 1858—Containing Prac¬ 
tical information for the Farmer and Horticulturist. Embel¬ 
lished with 130 Engravings, including Houses, Farms, Build¬ 
ings, Implements, Domestic Animals, Fruits, Flowers, &o. By 
J. J. Thomas. Published by LUTHER TUCKER & SON. Al¬ 
bany. Price,-prepaid by mail, 25 cents. The trade supplied by 
FOWLER & WELLS, No. 308 Broadway, New-York 
Agents, 
A FORTUNE!! 
CAN BE MADE IN SELLING THE 
Cottage Ornament) 
A new, large, and attractive sheet in Map form, 4 feet. 3 inchef 
by 5feet, mounted and varnished, which possesses entirely neto 
features , and is well calculated to ornament 
Every Home iss City os - Country. 
There are shown on it 
A good Map of the United States, 
A Globnler Map of the World, 
Dial Plate, showing the Relative Time, at the same instant in 
various .parts of the World, 
An Astronomical Plate, exhibiting the Orbits of the Planets 
around tho Sun, 
Twenty-four Engravings,showing the Peculiar National Cos¬ 
tumes worn in different Countries of the World, 
Portraits of Reigning Sovereigns of the Old World, 
Portraits of ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, 
with a view of the Residence of each. 
Together with numerous otherinteresting Engravings, 
All of Which are grouped and colored with a symmetry anil 
beauty rarely equaled. 
Address, ENSIGN, BRIDGMAN & FANNING, 
156 William Street New York 
