432 
FES, 2 
THE BUBAL NEW-YOBKEB 
stripping costR more than the loss of juice with 
the leaves. Then, inasmuch as the best disposi¬ 
tion to be made of the bagasse i< 10 use it for 
fuel under the boilers the leaves will assist to 
Increase the fire. It wonld be d fficult to give 
directions for constructing Buch furnaces in 
a communication like this. The tendency at 
this time among those in the business Is to the 
central facto y system, the same as in cheese 
ruaktug, and 1 must say it is the only feasible 
plan, especially iu tbe Northern States, where 
farms are small and devoted to varied crops. 
Recourse to this plan is made more necessary 
by the greatdi ficiency of well skilled operatives 
as boilers; however small the works, the mak¬ 
ing of sugar is liable to be a failure without a 
competent boiler, and, however large the work 
may be, one skillful boiler mtiy he sufficient. 
Now to afford readers of tbe Ruhal an idea 
of the plau that is beiug adopted in some of 
our prairie districts, I will quote one in Rice 
Oounty, Kansas, a thriving town of 1000 in¬ 
habitants. closely surrounded by a rich soil 
where cane has never failed. Au association 
his there been formed of cit zena and farmers, 
and all the facilities are offered by the corpo¬ 
ration that it can consistently afford- Farmers 
sign agreements to grow cane to tbe required 
amount—say 500 acres—cultivate and baudle it 
as required, and deliver it at the mill, leaves 
and seed attached, at the rate of $2 per ton or 
2 000 pouuds This constitutes the agricultu¬ 
ral department of the enterprise and should be 
disiiuet from the manufacturing. This latter 
tiny are uot 60 well prepared to organize, as 
cash capital is lacking, bnt it is thought East¬ 
ern capitalists may flud a safe and paying in¬ 
vestment for a few thousand dollars by joining 
these earnest workers aud by employing the 
three or four months of the most pleasant 
part of tbe year in taking off these crops. 
I will give a biief outline of the operations, 
presenting w hat is. as appears to me. a safe and 
reliable basis of calculation. We BUppose the 
works to cost $10 000 all complete, capable of 
m iking 500 gallons of sirup weighing 13 pounds 
each iu 12 hours' run, working up 42 tons of 
caue, costing $44 The requirements will be 
as follows: 12 hands at $1 pei day and three 
more at $2 each; cost of fuel, over and above 
the bagasse, $2 per day; incidental expenses 
aed interest, $3 per d< y. making a total of $65 
dai v for expenses. The income will consist 
of 500 gallons of sirup at 30 cents per gallon, 
or $150, or $140 exclusive of casks. The seed 
yield will equal one bushel per ton of cane, 
which, when fed with ihe tkimrnings aud wash 
of tanks, boilers, etc., will considerably exceed 
in value one bushel oi corn in fattening hogs 
or catile. it is fair to estimate the pork pro¬ 
duce from this at 12 pounds per bushel, or $500 
pouuds per day from the 42 bushels, worth, at 
three cents per pound, $15 per day The result 
will therefore foot up as follows : 
Total daily receipts.$165 00 
Total daily expenses. 06 00 
Total daily net profit. $90 Oo 
If there are 500 acres each returning 10 tons 
of cane and each ton j kids 12 gallons of sirup, 
which is a low estimate—it will take 120 days’ 
time to take off the crop. 
This, however, is longer than the seasons 
will generally admit. Working may be begun 
in the latitude of Missouri and Kansas by 
September 1st, aud continue with veiy little 
Interruption until December 1st. To expedite 
wish the apparatus of tbe size indicated, 
therefore, tunning the works at night is the 
legitimate recourse. This, in fact, is the 
economical plan just as soon as a sufficient¬ 
ly t killed force of hands is drilled to the woik. 
Now. if the works are made still more com¬ 
plete. by the addition of a vacuum pan, aud a 
fair proportion of sugar is obtained, a much 
larger nethalance w iii appear, as it is not diffi¬ 
cult toewing lonrtofive poundsof sugar, worth 
eight cents iu Kansas, or Missouri, and still 
have as good a sirup as that not susceptible of 
granulation; for it must be understood it is 
only the best quality of sirup that is suscepti¬ 
ble of crystallization. Our working now is 
and will be for some time, as it was former¬ 
ly in Louisiana with molasses from sugar 
cane—we are unable to erystalize so freely as 
to separate the cane sugar from the sirup to 
that degree that our molasses is poor in sac- 
chai ine, like glucose fancy sirups. I have not 
yet formed a sample of the molasses so 6epai- 
ated from the sugar that it did not show over 
40 per cent, of cane sugar still present, while 
the three eamples, Boston Bugar drip, Balti¬ 
more silver and St Louis white drip, failed to 
reveal a particle of cane sugar. 
If the above shall awaken the attention of 
at y of the readers of the Rubai, who may 
desire further information, on this subject, I 
desire it to be known that one of the objects 
of the Miesisippi Valley Cane-growers’ Asso¬ 
ciation is to afford information on the matter. 
Inquiries should therefore be addressed either 
to the Secretary or myself, at 2,004 Broadway, 
St. Louis. 
AILANTHUS SILK CULTURE. 
A few years ago an entomologist in Brook¬ 
lyn N. Y. procured some of the cocoons of the 
Ailanthus silk worm. From these came the 
millers or moths. Some of them escaped or 
were let loose, and the chrysalides from them 
beiDg hardy, there is now scarcely an Ailan¬ 
thus trees In the two cities, on wbich more 
or less of the cocoons may uot be found. 
Tbe silk of these cocoons is not so fine as, 
but is stronger and makes a cloth much more 
durable than, that from the cocoous of the or¬ 
dinary silk-worm. An obstacle formerly in 
the way of its use was that the silk could not 
be readily reeled from the cocoon; but new 
inventions have overcome that to a considera¬ 
ble extent. Beside, tbe introduction of ma¬ 
chinery for the treatment of the cocoons from 
which the moth has eaten its way—making 
the silk into flock and from this into thread 
for weaving as is now extensively done with 
the perforated cocoons of the ordinary 
silk worm—renders these cocoons of the Ail- 
anthus more readily worked and they would 
find a ready market could they be offeied in 
sufficient quantities. 
There are thousands of acres in many states 
that could be profitably employed in raising 
the trees for these worms to feed upon. I do 
not forget the objection that the pollen of the 
male tree is said by some to be as unhealthy 
a6 it is unpleasant; but no male trees need be 
raised. Cuttings strike readily and these 
can be made from the female trees. A little 
care only wonld be necessary to have a planta¬ 
tion acres in extent without a siugle blossom- 
is g tree. Beside, the trees will be kept so 
thoroughly cut in that they will blossom but 
little. Plant the trees out when a year old. 
Let loose a few moths among them, aud you 
will have turned a barren waste into a source 
of revenue. 
The treee should be set quite close together 
and kept cut in to a hight easily reached by 
ladders. The moths would lay ibetr eggs 
from which in time would come worms to feed 
on the leaves. These wonld iu turn spin and 
affix their cocoons to the trees wbich could be 
readily seen and gathered ly boys when the 
loliage was gone. Enough of the cocoons will 
be missed from which moths will escape to 
keep np a full supply, and the plantation 
once started will be a perpetual source of in¬ 
come with veiy little care and expense. Who 
will be the first to give it a trial ? I might go 
on and state by measure how close the trees 
should be planted and how closely headed in, 
but exactness is not necessary. The trees 
should be far enough apart to admit light to 
their roots and the tops should be readily ac¬ 
cessible by means of light ladders. 
L. A Robebts. 
— — ■ ■» » ♦ - 
Sugar from Amber Cane. 
At a meeting of the Chemung County To¬ 
bacco Club the discussion on subjects of tobac¬ 
co interest was followed by one on the ques¬ 
tion of making sirup and sugar from Amber- 
catae. 
Mr. Compton, who has had considerable ex¬ 
perience in working the eane, said, in answer 
to numerous questions, *•! consider that the 
business of making 6irup and sugar from Am- 
bet-cane has been started successfully In our 
valley. I have succeeded in making some su¬ 
gar which I shall show at the coming day meet¬ 
ing of the Elmira Farmers' Club. I have made 
about 1,450 gallons of sirup during the past 
seas m, and the prospect is, there will be 12 or 
14 mills woikiug in the couuiy next Fail Those 
who have tried growing the cane for the pui- 
poee of having it worked up will increase the 
acreage it there is a prospect of having it made 
up, which there is. A mill suitable to work 10 
acres will cost $150. I have sold my sirup 
for f om 50 to 60 cents per gallon. 
Mr. C 'cion Irom one-eighth to one-tenth 
ot at acre r "ll gallons of sirup. I think 300 
gallono m y U* produced front an acre, pruv'dtd 
good culture is given the crop. The cane 
should receive belter culture than our farmeis 
have given it the past season. With such cul¬ 
ture as is given to tobacco, 400 gallons can be 
produced from au acre. I tuiuk the business 
could be made to pay wdi in our valley. L^st 
season was unfavorable lor the growth and 
perfection of the cane, yet all who brought cane 
to me to be worked up, felt v/ell paid for their 
trouble and expense by the sirup which they 
obtained. The cane should be treated more us 
our farmers treat their tobacco crops, if the 
best results are to be expected I should plant 
in rows, north and couth, in hills, about 18 
inches apart iu a row, leaving about five or six 
stalks to a hill. From an acre oi very poor 
ground I got 100 gallons of good sirup, g. a. g 
RURALISM8. 
English journals are complaining, and it 
would seem justly, of the manner in which 
Americans pack their apples for the foreign 
markets. They say, with a good deal of feel¬ 
ing, that the best fruit is now put on the top 
and the poorest at the bottom, andthatthebai- 
rels are small. I suppose, however, that the 
barrel is the usual flour barrel. In contrast to 
this they call attention to the fact that Cana¬ 
dian apples are not only in larger barrels, but 
honestly packed throughout. This is a matter 
for grave consideration on the partof shippers 
as well of growers; for, aside from its down¬ 
right dishonesty, it is always in the end a los¬ 
ing game to play. I always read such things 
with a feeling of shame. It is mortifying to 
know that such things may sometimes may be 
found at home, but infinitely more so to find 
ourselves charged with them in the markets 
abroad. It is not the way to gain either char¬ 
acter or trade. From what I have seen, I am 
inclined to think that some shippers ate more 
to blame than the growers. Either tbe grower 
or the shipper should be compelled to put his 
name on every barrel shipped, which would in 
a measure act as a check. There may be many 
men willing to commit or consent to a fraud, 
but very few who would be willing to he expoeed. 
I wish some person connected with the Rubai, 
could spare time to investigate the matter and 
give the facts to the public. I will do what I 
can in the 6ame direction. If shippers commit 
such frauds fruit growers all over the country 
have a right to know it. 
The late Rolert L. Pell, of Pelham-on-the 
Hudson, who was famous for bis Newtown 
Pippins, the best of which went to Europe, used 
to wrap all his “ best ” apples separately in pa¬ 
per, uo unsound or imperfect fruit being al¬ 
lowed iu this selection. He employed no “ mid¬ 
dle man " or shipper, but sent direct himself, 
aud the prices he obtained were a surprise to 
those who touk no pains iu selecting and pack¬ 
ing. He made a reputation for himself a6 well 
as his country; and as his orchard of Pippins 
was a large oue his profits were large, for he 
often received as much as $20 a barrel for some 
of his apples iu England from private parties. 
I know there are more men like Mr. Pell still 
living ; I wish all were like him in this respect. 
There may be some necessity for overhauling 
Western appleB after their long aud rough 
journey, but none fur dishonesty. 
I am sorry the Editor does not quite agree 
with me about the Climbing Hydrangea. My 
praise of the plant had reference as much to its 
usefulness as its beauty. I cannot think of 
another ornamental, hardy climbing, clingiug 
plant that can be put to so naauy uses. It may 
be remarked that there are two forms of this 
plant in the marki-t; oue from cuttiugs from a 
plant in Japau and the other from seed from 
Japan, Tbe former bus the larger leaves, with 
deeper and coarser serratures. The tliffei- 
ence may disappear in time. Wherever I have 
put a plant, whether on rocky ground, by a 
wall, or a tree, it has seemed to make itself 
very much at home; aud it is for tbiB reason 
that I think it will prove to be useful as well 
as pretty. On the grounds of L. H. Meyer, of 
Staten I-land, there is a very fine specimen 
that has grown undisturbed since it was plant¬ 
ed. and grown very fast. 
Pbofes-ob Cook s excellent report on the 
experiment In feeding cows is a model of its 
kind, and makes one wish for the establish¬ 
ment of that experimental station, or a seethm 
of it, that we are to have near New York, with 
a man like the professor at the head of it. I 
should he glad to see a similar report for the 
Winter months. 
I see that tbe Frenchmen, with their won¬ 
derful Iruil.s, etc., formerly alluded to in this 
column, have goue West, aud that their char, 
acter seems to have gone before them, and to 
be understood Ly some. Last Winter they had 
a cool reception in Boston. 1 hope they will 
get one at the West sufficiently hot to make up 
for it. Sometimes they have a few good things, 
but the only sate wry is to have nothing to 
do with them. 
Last Fall I rtcommended the Triteleia uni- 
fiora for in-door and out door culture, it has 
been in uloom with me for over a month, and 
will col Linue a month or so more. A pol five 
inches in diameter has daily iu bloom from 30 
to 40 of its pretty white flowers tinted with 
bine. And then it is so easy to grow. 
Hokticola. 
-- 
The iltegarrhiza Californica. 
On reading the Kukal, dated Jan. 23d, I 
came across the following hard name, Megan- 
hiza Californica. which. 1 think, rneansa beau¬ 
tiful vine growing all around us, particularly 
on the uncultivated lands, on the hills and 
mountain Bides, among tba brush, rocks, etc , 
etc. We find it almost everywhere. It is a 
weed which we find in our grain fields among 
corn, potatoes, etc.; in fact it is a native. 
There are vintB of it now several feet long, 
fresh and green, with bunches of white, fra¬ 
grant bloom, and green, thorny pods which 
would make a New-Yorker think of chestnut 
hurts, if he undertook to open one with his 
fingers. The seeds wheif ripe are of various 
shades of beautiful color, and the children, 
both Spanish aud American, gather them by 
the thousand to play marbles with. The Span¬ 
ish call them “ Cbila cotassome Americans 
call the root “Man-root,” as it grows very 
large and deep in the ground. I have seen 
roots as large as a man, and I think they would 
weigh 100 pounds or more! They are very bit¬ 
ter. and one of those big roots, T think, would 
afford material enough to run Dr. Hostetter’s 
Bitters factory a week or more ! I have seen 
thousands of those big roots on the banks of 
the road where grading was done on the moun¬ 
tain side's. The pods open when ripe so the 
seeds drop out like ebeBtnntB. The squirrels 
eat the seeds occasionally, but find them bitter, 
too. Now, Mr. Editor, if you want some of 
those pretty seeds when ripe, I will try to send 
you some to tiy in your big garden. 
Santa Barbara Co , Cal. O. N. Cadwell. 
[We would thank our friend for a few of the 
seeds. No doubt the plant he speaks of is 
Megarrhiza Californica, now offered for sale 
by prominent London seedsmen. See illustra¬ 
tion, page 52 It is confiued to the Pacific 
coast and very nearly allied to Echinocystis, 
from which it differs in its immense perennial 
roots.— Eds ] 
THE PEACH. 
8. B PECK. 
What I have hero to say under the above 
head, is not to describe the process of growing 
this delicious fruit fr<Vm the planting of the 
pit up to the gathering and eating or market¬ 
ing the product, neither shall I proceed to 
give its history, its natural habitat; nor to de¬ 
scribe its many varieties with all their indi¬ 
vidual peculiarities or idiotyocrasies. No: 
ray success, or rather the lack of it, forbids my 
undertaking suen a task. And should I under¬ 
take in the choicest language at my command, 
to describe the tree wheu clothed in Us Spring 
floral robe, or in its Autumn dress of rich gold¬ 
en yellow or blush of crimson fruit, half hid¬ 
den by its livtly green triimnimrs, it would 
only bring t.o my fnlnd what 1 have had aud 
loet. It would hring vividly to mind the fact 
that after clearing off the forest and planting 
and tending a few aci es of ibis most popular 
fruit, and thanking a kind Providence for the 
rich reward bestowed upon me lor my labors, 
the trees were t-uddenly blighted aud ruined 
by au untimely frost, and that I have lived to 
clear r ff this same land attain by tearing up 
aud cremating these dead and decaying trees. 
It has been said that there is more to he 
learned by our failures than by our successes. 
Theadveutof unexpected and disastrous oc¬ 
currences, or startling phenomena, leads often, 
by a scientific exaniualion into its causes, to 
valuable results. Had 1 another life to live 1 
might myself profit by my own failures, but 
such not being the ease, the best thing that 
opens to me, is, to describe the causes ot fail¬ 
ure in my own ease and that ol mauy others. 
To insure a 1 y lasting success with this and 
kindred fruits iu this climate, the trees must 
be planted on sloping laud. The best slopes 
for them are to the northward, just the reverse 
of tire best slopes for the grape and all such 
late blooming kinds that require the whole of 
tbe season for their perfection. This may 
sound empirical as coming from me without the 
explanation, which I shall attempt to give. 
Every peach grower knows that nutimely 
frosts are the maiu and, l may say, the only 
drawbacks to success. Every farmer knows 
that low lands, especially hollows, are more 
subject to injurious fronts tbau billv.des, and 
knowing this fact, he muy deem it sufficient for 
his purposes; but he who is posted iu climatol¬ 
ogy, the. much sneered at hook-farmer, looks 
from effects to causes. The weight of a given 
volume of atmospheric air depends largely on 
its temperature; the colder the heavier, it 
receives its heat by reflection from the earth, 
the latter being heated ly the direct rays of 
the sun. After sundown the earth aud the 
thin stratum of air next above it cool rapidly 
with an increase of density and weight in the 
latter which causes it to seek, like water, the 
lowest level open to it: thus draining off the 
cooled air of the hills to the valley oelow it. 
But this is not all; wiods. currents of air, tend 
to prevent frosts ly mixing iris cooled sir 
with the warmer above it, aud the current of 
air downwards necessitates u counter eutreut 
upwards of the lighter aud warmer air. to 
prevent that vacuum which Nature is said 
to abhor. 
My peach trees wpre planted on ground 
slightly sloping to the North, and terminating 
in a very shallow basin, made partially by 
thick giass and low bushes bayond it In the 
Spring wheu. iu a few days, they should have 
blossomed aud Eet fruit, I was pruning, aud as 
I came to this hollow* I found the trees all 
dead, but at au elevation of twenty inches all 
were sound. None of the trees bore that sea¬ 
son. They subsequently bore three times iu 
six or seven years, but succumbed entirely 
during the winter of 1874 5 During the same 
time my mxi-door neighbor’s trees, put out at 
the same time, treated him still worse, because 
his ground was yet more level. 
A friend who by my advice had planted his 
