[From the Report of the Department of Agriculture,
for 1862]
The Proper Time for Cutting Cane.

Cutting includes three things: stripping off the blades, topping and cutting from the roots. It is the practice of many to strip the blade some time before cutting; but this is wrong. When the blades are taken off, the sap ceases to circulate, and much unelaborated sap remains in the plant. If warm weather follows, there is great danger of fermentation The operations of nature should not thus be interfered with. Stripping, topping and cutting should not be done at the same time.

seed in Central America this natural pro-
cess interferes with the development of the
SЯccharine materials. With the cutting
and hauling the labor of the farmer ceases,
and that of the manufacturer commences.
As already stated, it is not my intention to
speak of this branch of the subject, only so
far as the duty of the farmer is connected
with it. It is a matter of interest to both
to have the question determined:
HOW LONG MAY THE CANE BE KEPT AFTER
BEING CUT UP?

Reports have been made to our State
board, stating that it may be kept unim-
Others
paired from four to six weeks.
think that the first joint from both the top
and bottom cuttings is soured, and should
be cut off. The only analysis to determine
this point that I have seen is that made by
Lawrence Smith, of Louisville. He says:
"Even on the surface which is cut an alter-
ation commences at once; the sugar is
changed, and this alteration gradually creeps
from the cut extremity into all the joints of
the stock. I have verified this fact in re-
lation to the sorgho." By examining dif-
ferent joints, after it had been cut two or
three weeks, the results were as follows, the
joints being numbered from the extremity
next to the roots:

Juice from joints. Crystallizable Unerystallizable
First joint contained...6 per cent.

Third joint contained..8
Fifth joint contained...9%

Sugar.

66 66

Sugar. 7 per cent. 4%% 66 3

66

Where the topping should be made I am unable to state, for we have had no analyses, that I have seen, of each joint of the canc, to determine their difference The blades of the Louisiana cane die from the ground upwards, and I have seen the statement that that they use no higher portions of the cane than to where the blades are dead, being, as already stated, from three to five feet in length. We cut the sorghum according to the length of our wagon beds. Sugar-making will require more attention to this matter, and we must cal in the aid of the chemist. But the specimens must clearly teach us the time for cutting. No sugar is formed, in any molasses I have seen, when the cane was cut in the end of September, and in the beginning of October, or when the blades and canes had not turned red. Analysis, it is true, tells us that the Nothing is said of the ripen ssf the cane plant contains crystallizable sugar when or of the condition of the weather-two the seed is ripe; but to get it to granulate things that would materially influence the is more difficult than to determine its pres- character of the juice-nor of the mode in ence by chemical tests. The redness of the which it was kept. The Louisiana cane is canes and blades is like that of the leaves kept several weeks by throwing it into winThe cane is protected of our forest trees in "utumn: the indication rows after being cut. of the ceasing of circulation of the sap. from frost by the tops and blades, which are This is a gradual process, and not until it carefully piled over the stalks, and the water is completed is the plant at its maturity. I carried off by giving the stalks an inclination commenced stripping early in October, but of three to four feet. But this method will upon comparing the taste of the sap of the not be adopted here, because the seed and riper with the less riper canes, I could easi-blades are wanted for stock feed, and the ly see the great difference, and this difference continued until all the canes had become red. No stripping or cutting should be done until the cane has turned quite red, and this period is from the beginning of the the third week in October in this latitude Whether topping as we do in tobacco culti- The foregoing communication was written vation, before blossoming, or at a later pe- last winter, and having had the pleasure of riod, would be advantageous, has not been examining the analyses of the specimens I tried; but, as the seed is valuable, farmers forwarded to the department, I desire to re would prefer its maturing, un'ess such top-fer to them briefly here, to show the correctness of the views I have advanced as to the ping would insure the formation of sugar. The Louisiana cane does not flower: its absolute necessity of growing a perfectly sugar has the entire strength of the plant, matured cane and it is said when it is allowed to go to

blades are two few and narrow to afford much protection. It is better to work it speedily, and for this purpose our mills must be increased, so that every neighborhood may have its cine worked up in about three weeks.

By the report of the chemist, it will be

seen that No. 3, although it had deposited admitted and claimed by him) of the acids, some sugar before sent which was not put in it, yet subsequently deposited more than caustics, &c., obtained from the food referany of the others. The cane from which it red to, goes to prove that the process of was made was planted very thinly, and was getting them has destroyed the "compound” well matured when cut. No. 4, which was food, and left only several kinds of poisons. cut in September, although it had the There is additional proof of this in the fact, best soil and cultivation, ut too thickly that the artificial compounding of these planted, yielded only a few undeposited acids, caustics, &c, to reproduce the “staff grains of sugar. It contains but one more portion of sugar cane than No. 1, although of life," would give a sorry substitute for the latter had deposited one-third its bulk the sweet and nutricious bread made from of sugar. In all respects, but too early cut-genuine wheat. According to his own defiting, No. 4 was much better cane than No. nition, I think he shows clearly that food is 1. No. 5 possessed no better sugar qualities, chiefly for the same reason; but Nos. not poison, and as clearly, that poison is not 6 and 9, although containing no sugar when food It is, therefore, absurd to claim that sent to the Department, yet deposited much all food must be rejected to avoid being afterwards, evidencing that I was right in gnawed or killed by acids and caustics, beattributing their not showing sugar when sent, to the fact that the molasses had been cause a process that destroys food produces kept in full barrels and in a cool cellar. The poison. W. P. UNDERWOOD. granulating process requires air and warmth, and perhaps light also.

To me it is obvious that he chief requi site for sugar-making from the sorghum canes is their perfect maturity, and such maturity is dependent on correct cultivation and late cutting. L. BOLLMAN, Indiana. WASHINGTON, June 4, 1863.

STOCK REGISTER.

The Salt Question.

Mr.

MR. EDITOR:-I fail to see that Mr. S. H. Carpenter, in the July number of the FARMER, has given any additional light upon the question, whether salt, by its nature and effects, is necessary, artificially, to sustain health. I made no objection to salt, or other component parts of food, as compounded and prepared by Nature. Carpenter helps illustrate the correctness of my position, that "food is food," &c., and that food "is never poison until made so by changing its original nature, after which it could not be considered food in any quantity," by his defining food to be anything that tends to develope the body and sustain health, and that "food must be compound, and not simple." He mentions hay and wheat, both proven by long use to be food, according to his criterion. Anything, there fore, that produces an opposite effect from food, must be considered poison. The "irritant," pernicious, and fatal effects (both

RICHLAND, FILLMORE Co., MIN, July 22, 1864.

Successful Wool-Growing.

MR. EDITOR:-Wool-growers have been in the habit of publishing their clips of wool in the FARMER. I wish to offer a statement of the weight of my wool, taken from two hundred and twenty sheep, in the month of June last. If you feel disposed to insert it in the FARMER, it may be the means of showing those about starting in wool-growing the necessity of procuring as good lots of sheep as they can find, without paying extravagant prices.

My flock contains one four year old buck, three yearling bucks, one hundred and fortytwo ewes, and seventy four wethers (yearlings, and two and three year olds). The weight of the wool was eighteen hundred and twenty-four pounds, clan washed. The average weight of the wool per head was about eight pounds and five-sixteenths of an ounce. I sold it for ninety-five cents per pound, which amounted to the sum of seventeen hundred and thirty-three dollars.

My average clip of wool last year on one hundred and seventy-three sheep was seven pounds. For the last few years I have bred my best ewes to Robertson Rich, and Wa shoe bucks, owned by H. Hemenway, Esq., of Whitewater, in this State.

RACINE, July 26, 1864.

RICHARD RICHARDS.

Wil voresh and 990 K Some of the British Breeds of Sheep.

NUMBER VI.-THE CHEVIOT.

While making the tour of Scotland, in 1862, it was our pleasure to cross the Cheviot Hills, and to see this interesting breed On the Cheviot Hills, which lie along the of sheep grazing in their mountain pastures. boundary between England and ScotlandNear Jedburgh we saw several fine flocks, though chiefly in the latter named division from the stock of Mr. Thomas Elliott, who of the United Kingdom-there has been for is, perhaps, the most noted of the improved many years a breed of sheep known by the breeders of the Cheviot sheep, and who, name of the hills to whic' it is native. within the past fifteen years, is said to have Youatt correctly describes them as having taken no less than three hundred prizes at "the face and legs generally white; the eye the differant exhibitions in the kingdom. lively and prominent; the countenance open They were fine specimens, and probably as and pleasing; the ear large, and with long correctly informed us as it was possible to space from the eye to the ear; the body be informed of the characteristics of the imlong-on which account they are called proved breed. We also saw, in the neigh'long sheep,' in distinction from the black-borhood of Hawick, fine specimens of the faced breed. They are full behind the shoul- original Cheviot sheep. Lord Napier, the der, have a long, straight back, are round English Minister to this country during the in the rib, and well proportioned in the administration of James Buchanan, was quarters; the legs clear and small-boned, also an enthusiastic cultivator of this breed. and the pelt thin, but thickly covered with It was not until quite a recent date that fine, short wool. They possess very consid- importations were made into this country, erable fattening qualities, and can endure and yet in many portions of New York they much hardship, both from starvation and have been extensively crossed on the native cold. He is fit for the butcher at three breeds, and with success. The Albany Culyears old, and at two when crossed with the tivator says: "They are hardy, bearing exposure to wet better than the long wool Leicester." breeds, on account of the wool upon the back and the hardiness of their constitutions."

The above are the characteristics of the pure breed; but since their admixture with other breeds, as, for instance, the Leicester and Black-faced, of the neighboring districts, they are often found with grey or dun, spots on their legs and faces, and with some of the characteristics of the Leicester sheep.

We have never seen any of the Cheviot sheep in the West. It seems to us quite viot would do well in some of the hilly disprobable, however, that the improved Chetricts of our own and neighboring states further west.

"GREEN MOUNTAIN BOY"-A pure Spanish Buck, bred by Henry W. Walker, of Shoreham, Vt., now owned by Horace Williams, of Whitewater. For description, see advertisement in this number.

"GOLD MINE"-Bred by William R. Sanford, of Orwell, Vt., and now owned by A. F. Knox, of Whitewater. See advertisement for description and pedigree.