The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-01-01

COMPLETE SUCCESSIVE have not now a doubt
will attend the introduction of Sugar Milet (Sorghum
Sucre of the botanistsy among the crops of the Ohio
Valley. That it viii enable our farmers to compete
with the planters of Louisiana in the production of
Sugar, we do not suppose neither are we satisfied
that its culture and manufacture into syrup will
supersede the use OF New Orleans Molasses in this
region, although the experiments of Mr.. Orth In In
diana. as detailed in our fifth number, and that Of
Gov. Hammond in South Carolina, as mentioned IN a
preceding section of this article, afford very strong
evidence that such will be the case but that 1T may
be most profitably cultivated for green soiling in mid
summer, when pasturage is scarce, and for dry fod-
der in winter, we do not entertain a doubt and tes-
timony not to be treated lightly has been adduced;
fayoring the idea that it may be grown probably for
the seed, to be converted into meal for bread, cakes,
etc, and possibly into malt for brewers.
THE CULTIVATION bestowed upon that which we
examined in Ohio, was precisely the same as that
which is required for the cultivation of corn. 1t was
planted in drills about three feet apart, mt the rate
OF a half bushel of seed to the acre, which makes it
thick, and prevents the stalks from growing so large
as they otherwise would. 1t was put IN immediately
after corn planting, and was worked with pillow and
cultivator i'll the same manner and at the same peril
DDS that corn in the adjoining field was worked. At
the time of our visit it varied from SIX to eight feet
in height, and was just beginning to head out. The
yield per acre, on what we saw, was prodigious. But
OF course this depends principally upon the strength
of the soil. Any soil that will produce Il good crop
of corn, will doubtless produce n good crop of the
Sugar Millet and ground cultivated in Millet, for
summer feeding or for winter fodder, VIII wear long
er than ground cultivated in corn, for the reason that
the growth is cut before the seed natures. When the
plant is grown for its seed, the soil Is probably eX-
hausted as rapidly as in the growth OF corn. A Sec
ond growth of the Sugar Mjllet starts out, in a few
days, upon two opposite sides, from the hrst JOINT
below the place at which the plant is cut for green
feeding. On some which had been cut between two
and three weeks, this second growth was more than
a foot long. This would make admirable forage for
cattle, i'll a field from which the crop had been
removed, though we do not suppose that it would be
worth cutting.
On this subject u subscriber in Clermont Co. writes
us as follows
The farmers of Ohio have proven from actual expe-
riments the present year, that they can make their
own sugar cheaper and Il better article than they can
buy, by cultivating the Chinese Sugar Cane. There
is no humbug in this, it is just precisely adapted to
the soil and climate of Ohio, yields a heavy crop and
is immensely rich in sacharine matter, and the far
mers of Ohio can raise sugar from this plant at a cost
of five cents per pound. We have Il lump OF this SUI
gar manufactured by ourselves.
MICROSCOPIC DISCOVERIES OF THE NATURE OF
BLIGHT IN WHEAT-Wheat is subject to q disease
which in rainy seasons is very prevalent in certain
districts it is known under the name of blight.
This disease is caused by microscopic animalcules5
similar to that Of the cylndric worms which live as
parasites in the vorticello and in man. These wheat
worms have the remarkable c~apability of remaining
in a dry and horny state for years, and then regain
ing life on being mOistened, and this process can be
repeated eight or ten times. On examining a grain
of blighted wheat, 1t is found to consist OF Il hard
shell filled with a white powder. This powder con-
tains no trace of starch it consists entirely of micros-
copic threads, which are dry stiff worms. When the
wheat is new they soon make manifold and consider
able movements which are unmistakble signs of life.
When the grain is old it requires several hours, or
sometimes even days, before they resume motion and
life. In a single grain of affected wheat there are
generally several thousands Of those worms. Before
a blight comes on there are found from ten to twelve
larger worms in each kernel which is about to be
affected, and the females of these larger worms have
been observed to lay eggs. If blighted wheat is sown
with sound, the worms after u few weeks, and when
the sound wheat has terminated are awakened into
life by the moisture Of the earth, break through the
thin shell which has confined them, and follow the
dictates of individual enterprise. The great mass of
them die, but a few reach the terminated wheat and
effect a Judgement in the stalk under the forming
leaves. They are carried up by the growth of the
plant, and in wet weather by their own exertions.
As they are dried up most of the time, they suffer no
considerable change until they enter into the forming
kernels and lay their eggs. By the time the sound
corn is ripe the parents are dead their remains are
almost dried into almost nothing, the e%gg-shells are
absorbed, and the grain is apparently filled with
nothing but white powder. This is, as before stated,
the dry Helminthes.