[Syrupmakers] POJs, Yellow Gal

[Bill Outlaw]

Richard,

Yes, I also developed the opinion that "POJ" is POJ 213.  But, these 
names are monsters and when a cane has been handed down, over, and 
around for generations and among friends, the identity becomes an 
opinion.  In the case of POJ (Proefstation Oost Java [Dutch for East 
Java Experiment Station] ), even the name has taken on new meaning 
(Pure Old Japanese according to one account, Pride Of Jamaica, 
according to another).   I do believe that sugar cane and figs suffer 
worse than most.  (Even less time and distance are required--a 
nursery is replacing some stock for me this winter because the 
shipment three years ago fruited this year, and it was obviously wrong.)

On the topic of "POJ," though,  and germane to other posts, I've 
heard old men complain about how it would break when feeding into the 
mill.  For me, it lodges, but there's no denying how good Don Dean's 
POJ syrup is, so after getting disgusted with it, I have planted some 
more to multiply. (The previous reference referred to POJ 213 syrup 
as "fancy quality" and mentioned the breaking and lodging 
problem.)  In a similar vein, there's also no denying how good Tommy 
Clayton's Simpson syrup was, so I am trying to get a few stalks of 
that.  And, likewise, I'd hate the prospect of trying to make a 
living growing Ribbon (historical), but the syrup . . . .  I guess 
there's a good bit of pain in this business.  But, I hasten to add, 
that the list of excellent syrups goes on and on and it looks like 
trying to grow POJ, Simpson, and Ribbon might be more to satisfy a 
masochistic streak than make syrup (rather like trying to keep bees 
without using chemicals).  But, I digress . . .  .

POJ has another interesting attribute.  After cutting, endogenous 
invertase accumulates, which--to cut to the chase--means that the 
syrup will have a lesser tendency to sugar than syrups of some other 
varieties.

Life is confusing, more is less, so I am going to get off this mouthy tear.

Best wishes to all.

Bill

(sc, Tally)

At 09:16 AM 11/14/2006, you wrote:
>Bill,
>    I believe that the POJ that most of us have or have seen is 
> probably POJ 213. Do you have an opinion ?
>                 Richard Harrison
>
>Bill Outlaw <bill at southernmatters.com> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>POJ canes and Yellow Gal have been on the "news" lately, so thought
>some of you might wish to see color plates and descriptions. (Sorry,
>3.5 MB file.)
>
>http://www.southernmatters.com/sugarcane/bulletins/Brandes/Brandes_Varieties.pdf
>
>Best wishes to all.
>
>Bill
>(sc, Tally)
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