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

! account, will swell the average produce
per acre to 26S1 gallons. And from
i what have observed Of the culture
and management Of the several lots of
cane embraced in the estimate alluded
to above, | cannot but believe this
result to be entirely inside of what
may be done on good land, in an ordin-
airy favorable season.
A few remarks in rcfere nee TO the
seed, the culture, time of cutting keep.
ing after being cut, method and cost
of manufacturing syrup are added.
SEED. --Cultivators of the sorghum
will need to be scrupulously careful
lest the seed they plant should be hy-
Eridized with broom corn or other
plants of the same genus, and to obtain
that which has been thoroughly ripen-
Ell. Broom corn, growing some hun
dreds Of yards distant, has been known
so to affect the seed as to render the
succeeding crop almost worthless.
! CULTURE.-It is Of Importance to
the success Of its cultivation, that the
ground selected should be so elevated
as 10 be clear Of liability to excessive
moisture; for although, when well
matured, the sorghum will bear more
frost than Indian corn, yet it is liable
to material injury from early Erosts in
this latitude, when planted in cold clay
soils. The earth should bc reduced to
q very fine tilth before the seeds are
committed to it's keeping. AS method
of planting, l would suggest that the
plan adopted by T.. E., on the four
acre, lot, described above, is perhaps
as economical as almost as any other !;
though the drill may be used to great
advantage on clean ground, if it can be
made to drop the quantity of seed de-
sired. During the subsequent cU!ti'
walton, think it ought to be reduced
to about one stalk to three superficial
feet, removing such suckers and inferior
stalks as are likely to be backward in
ripcning. .
CUTTING. AS to the time Of cutting
it may be regarded as sufficiently ripe
for syrup, when the seeds become
: generally Of q dark brown--bu& will
impyove in quality, if left to stand
till The temperature falls to 80 deg.
. f., or even lover. But 'Edelay is
dangerous" on account Of the uncer-
tainty of the season, and the time re-
quircd to work up any considerable
quantity of cane. 1t should be cut
obliquely, just above the crown roots,
, and one or two joints Topped off at top.
7 L think the blades are stripped of
; moro freely after cutting than while
, standing,and have no doubt it pays
: TO tic up the cane in small bundles,
, before attempting to load it, in order
| to facilitate handling.
. KEEPING CANE.-Tho cane, if IN.
injured by severe frosts before cutting,
may be kept good several weeks, il
protected from extensive wet and hard
, freezing. This may be done either by
housing or placing in windows, on rail:
l OF boards, and straw. ...
, FODDER SEED AND CRUSHED CAME
Q Tho tops, after the seeds have been
! knocked offwitl the thrcshing machine,
@ together with the blades, when proper.
+, " cured, make the best Of proycndcl
for all kind Of stock. that eat hay
The seed, Of which thirty to forty
! bushels to the acre, weighing some
forty pounds per bushel may be expect.
. ed as fair crop, is much like broom
, corn, and when ground makes excellent
= feed The pressed cane or bagassc
(if the mill docs it's duty, is Of no value
for fodder; but may make some manure
2 when rottcd, Or might be useful as
fuel for cvoporat,ng the juice. A
: am@U amount Of vinegar may be got
, out Of it, and should judge from its
8 fbrous texture, that afterwards il
! would make ropes, or excellent papci
! Manufacture. Our crushor is light one
horse, two roller, cast iron mill ,capablc
. of expressing about forty gallons o.
juice per hour--cost fifty dollars. Iht
9 boilers have wooden sides aud shcot
. iron bottoms, and arc set on brick work
1 so that the fire reaches the bottom, bY
0 cannot approach the sides.
, There are three Of them; ono hold
ing eighty eight gallons We use as
clarificr, and is set at height which
admits the juice to be run into it from
the vessel under the mill, and higher
by the depth of itself than tho othe,
two SO that when ready The clarified
juice is run into either Of tho others
, These, each holding scvcnty,two gal
Ions, are used for cyaporatiDg, ans
finishing, For neutralizing the aciC
and clarifying have used super car
Donate Of soda, which was applied after
, the juice had been brought gently tt
the beiins point and the first scum re