Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-01-21
WHOLE NO. s1Os.
in transportation and The PerfOraiion Of shs
veevil in The hin

weevll IN the DIN. M
From several reliable experiments made
with this wheat in Virginia, with ordina-
rily good cultivation, the yield was thirty
bushels TO an acre. Estimating the pres
ent annual crops Of wheat grown in the
Middle and Southern portions of the Uni
It'd States to be 100000, 900 bushels
averaging, say twenty bushels to the acre:
the increased production in those sections,
If The Turkish flint Nhi at alone were
cultivated, and the ratio Of yield as above,
would be 6O.oOO,OO0 bushels. which
would often add to the yearly resources
of single farm $500, and Of The country
at least s5O.oOO,O0O.
Improved King Philip or brown corn,
the seed of which was obtained thr-e years
ago from an island in lake in New
Hampshire, was extensively disseminated
in all the States north OF New Jersey,
and throughout The mountainous districts
OF Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
The result has been that il usually ma
tured within the period of ninety days
from the time Of planting (from the first
to he middle Of June, aud yielded with
good cultivation, in most cases, from
eighty TO one hundred bushels of shelled
corn 10 an acre. Il is well adapted to
high attitudes and elevated valleys, and
plains, where, from the shoFiness ofsum-
ner, other varieties of corn are liable to
be killed by late spring or early auium-
nal frosts. The quality Of the grain is
good. being heavy, well filled With oil,
and suitable for iatlening animals, or for
transportation by sea without injury from
moisture in vessels. This corn also pos
sesses another valuable property, in be-
ing susceptible Of close planting, aud con-
sequenIly is Of dwarfy growth, which
renders the entire stalks and blades suit
able for fodder when cured. sgd
Estimating the present annual corn
crop of New England, New York, Mich
igan, Wisconsin,, Minnesora, Utah, -Wosh-
ington, and Oregon at 500 0,O0O bush.
els. say Thirty bushels per acre., if The
variety of corn in question were solely
cultivated in these States the Increased
yield, allowing the product TO be fifty
bushels Zone half Of the maximum) 10 the
acre, would be more than $4,000, COO
bushels, the value of which would be at
least 5000 900.
FORAGE PLANTS.
Among the forage products more re-
Gently introduced, and which would seem
TO deserve special notice, is the "Chiness
sugar cane," So,ghum saechdrt4nu. a
new gramineOus plant of Chinese origin,
but more recently from France, BY the
way of Natal, in South Africa. Since its
introduction into this country il has prov
ed itself well adapted TO our geographical
range Of Indian corn.
Il is of easy cultivation, being similar
to that of maize or broom corn; ard. if
the seeds are planted in May, in The Mid
die States, or still earlier at The South,
two crops cf fiddler can be grown in a
season from the same roots, irrespective
Of drought the frs, one in June OF July,
to be cut before the panicles. appear,
which would be green and succuIeni,
like young Indian corn, and the other a
month or two later, when or before the
seed is fully matured. The amount Of
fodder which ii will produce 10 the acre'
with ordinary cultivation, MAJ be safely
estimated al seven tons when green, or
al least two tons per acre when thorough.
ly cured. The stalks, when nearly ma
ture, are filled with a rich sacchariue
juice, which may be converted into sngar
syrup. alcohol, or beer, or may be. used
for dying wool or silk, a permanent red
or pink and the entire plant is devoured
with avidity, either in green or dry
state, BY cattle, horses, sheep and swine
Considered in an uliliIarian point Of view
this plant has perhaps stronger claims on
the American sgricul,urist than any oih-
er product that has been brought 10 this
country since the Introduction Of cotton
or wheat. Aside from other economical
uses, its value for feeding 10 animals
alone, in every section ofthe Union here
it will thrive, cannot be-surpassed by any
other crop, as greater amount Of nutri-
tious fodder cannot be obtained 50 cheap
on given space, within so short a
period oftime.
Without wishing to present the ques-
lion in an exiravagsnt light, it may be
stated rha, this crop is susceptible Of being
within the territory Of the
United States, to an extent equal 10 thar
Of Indian corn, say 5,OOO,O QUO acres per
annum; and estimating the average yield
Of dry or cured fodder to the acre al TWO
ons, the yearly amount produced would
be 5J.uOO,OOO tons, which, to keepwithin
bounds. would be worth al least $500,
Doc, coo, besides the profits derived. from
he animals in milk, flesh, labor and
wool. s.f - -
The German millet (ponieam Gsraan-
eum) another annual forage plant, has
been introduced from France. which has
proved very productive, is quick ofgrowth
'esis,s drought, and even fourishes well.