The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-03-28
Sorghum.

with most otneTS Whlcn nave Oeen press
ed on the attention Of farmers for the last
few years, has resulted variouslv-in
some cases achieving most unqualified
and gratifying success, in others only a
medium triumph, in others almost to-
tai failure. This was to be expected, in
view Of the widespread, indiscrminate,
and irregular trial which was given it.
1t was to be supposed that the results
would be as various as the methods adopt
ed in its cultivation and manufacture.
The man who the most intelligenty and
the most carefully operated with it, it
was certain, would be he who would find
its results the most satisfactory while
he who refused to it due judgment and
attention was, of course, destined to reap
a poor harvest. But an important ques-
ton is, whether such care, such appli-
ances, such operations, are necessary, as
to make it expensive and improbable,
and difficult of culture and manufacture.
We believe that no such requirements
are needed. The year 1858 was the first
in which any great amount of attention
was paid to the Sorghum, and with an
entire lack of experience relative to the
manipulations required, 416,774 gallons
of syrup were made in this State alone.
The number Of acres cultivated was
5000, which gives yield Of over IA
gallons of syrup per acre, notwithstand-
ing all the immense waste consequent
upon rude and imperfect apparatus. Bu-
chanan county raised 1873 acres, and man
ufactured 10000 gallons of syrup, or
about Sc gallons per acre. 1t is safe to
say that the waste in cane and the man
ner OF treating what was worked, was
fully nehalf. But still we have an av-
erage of So gallons of syrup per acre,
Notwithstanding all the inexperience and
other disadvantages labored under. 1t
does not, therefore, present any special
dlfhculties-does not require undue care,
or demand impracticable or improbable
attention. Its culture every one knows
to be simple and easy. The only difficult
ty that presents itself is in its manufac-
ture. Almost all the 10. 500 gallons of
syrup made here in 1853, and the 10000
gallons it is estimated were made in the
county last year, were boiled down in
common pots and kettles, and the pro-
duct was of poor quality, as a matter of
course. The solution for which all are
now looking is, whether a good quality
OF syrup and sugar is obtainable by any
comparatively inexpensive process.
1t has been denied by some that Cane
Sugar can be produced from the Sorghum.
There are two kinds of sugar, namely
glucose, or grape sugar. Ga sugar mod
erately sweet and difficult of crys,a.liza.
ton } and cane sugar, with very sweet
taste and easily crystallized. The first
form occurs abundantly in fruits-the
latter IN sugar cane, the beet-root, maple,
DC. BY reliable investigations, which
have been made under authority of the
Patent Office, it has been ascertained
that both the Chinese and African yarie.
ties OF the Sorghum will produce only
grape sugar when green, but when near
~ or quite ripe will give well crystallized
cane-sugar. The relative quantities of
cane-sugar in the Sorghum, and Sugar
Cane, and Beet Root, are as follows
Sorghum 100; Sugar Cane 1870 Beet.
Root. 1915. 1t will therefore be seen that
the Sorghum contains 3 more sugar
than Beet Root: and yct from the latter
France now produces leo, 900, 600 lbs. of
sugar. or one-half Of what is consumed
by her 81, 900, 900 of people 1t is there
fore undeniable that the Sorghum will
produce both syrup and sugar of good
quality and in paying quantity, and the
""'e th Will III utlSillS-
fled. is the means for readily and cheap.
ly extracting them.
ID. M. Cooks PATENT EyApoRAron
will, we believe, meet this want. Hon
ACE GREELEY, not long since, writing to
the Tribune from one of the Western
States. speaks of its efficiency and value.
We have ourselves seen a good quality of
Sugar. made in Ohio. we are reliably as
sured, by simple boiling in this evapo-
rator. Another specimen. very light in
color, was obtained by adding pint of
the milk of lime to one barrel of the
juice. One of these evaporators was in
use by Messrs. LEUDER, BEACH, and PAL.
AER. Of Sumner Township. in this coun.
ty, the past year, and syrup was made
by it that far surpassed, in color and fla
vor, any that we have ever seen made
from the Sorghum. No attempt was made
70 manufacture sugar, yet Mr.. BEACH in
forms us that part Of what he made has