The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-01-22

piouSo0 tuiCO sOCs i"P"ie "Aeu eS~ ~
twelve seeds id hill, which we're thin
ned out to six or seven plants soon after
ii came up In addition, a drill Of 36
feet 10 length was planted thinning to
about 8 or 6 inches apart. The young
plants appeared to have no more sacha-
rine properties than ordinary grass or
broom corn that could perceive, and
the plant closely resembled the latter
vegetable in its growth and appearance
Indeed came to the conclusion that it
was oply another variety of broom corn
and SO tar as sugar or molasses was con-
cered that.it was complete ''humbpg."
But when the warm weather came on it
grew rapidly, putting out a bushy top
covered with newly formed seeds about
the first Of September and attaining q
height at maturity Of 10 to IL feet. The
top differs from that OF broom corn in
having a stronger central spike branch
ing out nearly its entire length, the 6bers
being somewhat harsh and stiff and for
that reason would not make a good
broom. Soon after this top appeared |
found that the stalk was really filed with
juice which was quite sweet and pleas
ant to the taste, and by way of expert
ment at that time expressed the juice
from two or three Of the stalks and bsil-
ed it down to the consistency of molass-
est was very sweet but of greenish
color and immature taste, proving that
that the plant was not sufficiently ripe.
About the middle of October, we had
two cold nights in succession freezing
the surface Of the ground in my garden
to the depth of nearly half an inch
On the morning after the 6rst Of these
nights cut up that portion which was
planted in hills (about 70 sanes) and
after stripping of the leaves passed them
between two wooden rollers about 6
inches In diameter which We had prepar-
ed for the purpose obtaining rather more
than six quarts of juice, which was boil
ed down to little more than one quart
Of syrup, the sample send you being
a part of this lot That which was
planted in drill stood two or three days
longer, the frost having killed the leaves
SO that they became brown and dry
these were stripped off as before and the
result was equal in every respect that
of the first experiment. There being a
greater number Of canes and somewhat
larger in size owing to the quality of the
land where planted, about double the
quantity of juice and Of syrup was OBJ
taiued from them the quality not being
perceptibly different from the first. A
few small canes were thrown out of the
first lot, as we supposed they were not
fully riPe and might iojure THE quality
Of the syrup. These remained some
ten days exposed to the weather after
which they were passed between the
rollers and | think produced as much
juice as canes of the same size when
newly cut, and | thought it somewhat
swecter TO the taste, but the quantity
being quite small, it was not boiled down.
The PROCESS Of boiling is very simple ;
it may be boiled pretty rapidly at first
and should be skinned until it is quite
clean and clear, after which to prevent
burning it should be allowed to simmer
slowly away to the proper consistency.
The yield of syrup from that planted
in drill would equal $50 gallons per acre
and when proper allowance is made for
the imperfect manner of expressing the
juice with rude homemade wooden roll
ers, think it is safe to say that more
than 200 gallons may be produced from
an acre of land which would yield 40
bushels of Indian corn. | have seen it
stated as the result of anexperiment made
in Georgia that 46S gallons could be
obtained from an acre-however that
may be | think the above a safe calcula-
tion for our New England soil.
had about twelve quarts of seed at
which rate the yield per acre would be
not less than 70 or 80 bushels ; the seed
however lies rather loosely together
some small 6bers of the brush being
mixed with it 1t weighs about 20
pounds to the bushel and | have no
doubt it will prove valuable food for
poultry, and possibly for cattle if ground.
The refuse stalks after being passed be-
tween the rollers were eaten greedily by
the cows.
l think this plant will prove an i'm
portant acquisition to our country and
especially to the northern portion Of it,
which has so long been dependent up
on the South for its slave grown sugar
and molasses. l shall supply my neigh
bors and friends with small quantities of
the seed as far as l can, and | believe
it may still be bad from the Patent Or
fee. l trust our farmers generally will
give the Sorghum fair trial as soon as
they can obtain the seed.
CHARLES PERRY.
Westerly, 18th month 80, 1856.