American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-01-28
S0RGHUM-WlLL II PAY9

This question has been fully tested
by some Of the most enterprising, keen
witted and scientific farmers in the
United States, viz Pennsylvania Qua
kers and the result appears to be
entirely satisfactory. At tho recent
meeting of the Philadelphia Ag. So
ciety, a report was submitted on this
subject by Thos. Ellicot, "a gentleman
of education and highly respectable
position, a large farmer and proprietor
in Chester county" covering the fol-
loving detailed "Report" in relation
to the cultivation and manufacture of
the Chinese Sugar Cane, which our
readers will find to be well worth peru
sal and preservation:
Having given some attention to the
cultivation of the Chinese sugar cane
the two past seasons, | have engaged,
to limited extent in its manufacture
into syrup and sugar. And at the re-
quest of my friend, Thomas Ellicot, l
have been induced to furnish the re-
suits of my observations and experience
for the benefit of those whom it may
concern. Though am fully conscious
thatto many persons in the community
tho facts here stated are entirely fami-
| liar, yet is hoped that the hints CON
tanned in the following report may
serve to aid public opinion in duly csti-
mating the intrinsic value Of the sorg-
hum as an article Of culture. And it
has been no small part of my design,
in the details given, in some measure
to assist enterprising farmers in in
producing into their communities the
lcultivation and manufacfurc on their
oWn soil, and with their oegn hands, a
commodity Of such obvious value-an
article of domestic necessity, if may
so speak, which has heretofore drawn
largely upon the financial resources of
our own people.
| Tue largest lot Of cane worked up
by me this season was raised by
Thomas Ellicot, Of Ayondale, who has
has taken more interest in this subject,
probably, than any other man in Chcs-
ter county and vas induced to engage
in its cultivation by no other motive,
believe, than that of testing the "Sorg,
hum question" by fair and open cx.
pertinent, for the benefit of the com.
munity at large.
The ground selected by him was g
sod, such as would produce in a good
season some forty bushels of Indian
corn per acre. 1twas broken Up early
in April, and planted without manure
of any kind about the 1st cf May, in
hills three feet apart each way. The
season being unusually wet and cold,
much of this seed failed to gcrminato,
leaving many hills entirely vacant,
and the remainder 40 thin, that, when
wecdcd as .udiciously as tho case
would admit,it did not leave an average
of over two aud half stalks to the hill
instead Of three or four, as was de-
! signed. The cultivation was similia,
in all respects to that used in Indian
corn. Tho cutting commenced on the
4th Of October, when the seeds appear.
cd generally ripe, and it was rearly
all worked up by the goth Of the same
month. Thislot, containing four acres
and ten perchos, yielded eight hundred
and oighty'thvce gallons Of syrup, OF a
fraction over 217 gallons por acre
and it is but due to romark that some
20 gallons per acre were lost by a mis-.
construction Of orders in cutting the
cane about one joint higher from the
groundon an average, throughout, than
economy would require; SO that the
positive yield Of this piece Of ground
under all theunfavorablc circumstances
of its culture, 8houid have been 25l
gallons to the acre. And / may oh.
serve here that, having worked ur
small lots Of cane for over thirty Of my
neighbors, this fall, | measured cGre.
DUtly several pieces Of ground whose
Iproduco has passed through my hands
for the purpose Of determining more
certainly what an acre Of ground under
Ordinary circumstances might be ex
lpooted to produce. The result Of this
examination gives an average of 2dt
gallons. And it is due to state in thi.
connection that, on careful examination
OF the performance of our mill, VIC have
to admit that at least ten per cent. o
the saccharino remained in the stalk
which, if our works had been sufficient
| ly strong, should have been extracted
This important fact being taken int