The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-04-12
SOrgh

The experience with this plant, as with
most Others which have been pressed on the
attention of farmers for the last few years,
has resulted variouSlv--in some cases achiav-
ing most Inqulied and gratifying success,
in others onlv medium triumph, in others
almost total failure This was to be ex-
pected, in view Of the wide sprad, indiScrim-
mate, and irregular trial which was given it,
1t was to be supposed that the results would
be as various as the methods adopted in its
cultivation and manufacture. The man who
the most intell;gentlv and the most carefully
operated with it, it was certain, would be he
who would find it's results the most salts
factory while he who refused to it due indg
ment and attention was, Of course, destined
to reap poor harvest. But an important
question is, whether such care, such appli-
ances. such operations, are necessary, as to
make it expensive AMI improbable, and diff
cult of culture and manufacture. We be-
lieve that no such requirements are needed.
The year 1858 was the first in which, in any
great amount Of attention was paid to the
Sorghum, and with an intire lack Of expert
ence relative to the manipulationS required
4l6,774 gallons of Syrup were made in this
State alone. Tn, number of acres cultivated
was 5000, which gives a yield Of over "a
I gallons ofsyrup Ter acre, notwithstanding
all the immense waste consequent upon rude
and imperfect apparatus. Buchanan county
raised lS3 acres, and manufactured 10000
gallons OF syrup, or about SO gallons per
acre. 1t IS safe TO say that the waste in
cane and the manner oftreating what was
worked, was fully one-half BIT still we
have an average Of 56 gallons Of syrup per
acre, notwithstanding all the inexperience
! and other disadvantages abored under. II
does not, therefore, present any special diff
! cu!ties--1oas not require undue care, or de-
mahd impractcable or improbable atten-
| ton. It's culture every one knows to be
simple and easy. The only difficulty that
presents itself in its manufacture. Almost
all the 10,500 gallons ofSyrup made here in
1853, and the 1900 gallons it is estimated
were made in the county last year, were
boiled in common pots and kettles, and the
product was poor quality, as a matter OF
course. The solution for which all are now
looking is, whether good quality of syrup
and sugar is obtainable by any comparative
/ ly inexpensive process.
| 1t has been denied by some thtt Cane Su-
gar can be produced from Sorghum. There
are two kinds of sugar, namely; glucose, or
Crane sugar, Ga sugar moderately sweet and
! difficult of cr?stalization) AMI cane sugar
with very sweet taste and easily crystal
izei. The first form occurs abundantly in
/ fruits-the latter in sugar cane, the beet
root, maple, &C. By re'iHble investigations,
which have been made under authority OF
the Patent Office, it has been ascertained that
both the Chinese and African varieties OF
the Sorghum will produce only grape sugar
when green, but when nearly OF quite ripe
will give well crvstalzed cane sugar. The
relative quantities ofcane,sugar in the Sorgh-
um, and Sugar. Cane, and Beet-Root, are as
follows: Sorghum, 100; Sugar $50:
| Beet Root, 1O5. IT will therefore be seen
that the Sorghum contains 1.5 more sugar
than Beet-Root; and yet from the latter
France now produces l2A,o00,o 600 lbs. Of su.
gar, or one half Of what is consumed by her
30. .o0O,0 900 of people. 1t is therefore unde.
niable that the Sorghum will produce both
syrup and sugar of good quality and in pay.
ne quantity, and the only want in connec-
ton With it, unsatisfed, is the means ofread,
lily and cheaply extracting them.
ID. NJ Cooks PATENT EvAPoRAToR viii, we
pelieve, meet this want. Horace GREELEY.
| not long since. writing to the Tribune from
me of the Western States, speaks of its eff
cheney and value. We have ourselves seen
good quality of sugar, made in Ohio, we
are reliably assured. by simple boiling in
this evapor ,tor. Another specimen, very
light in color was obtained by adding a pint
of the milk of lime to one barrel of the juice.
One Of these evaporators was in use by
Messrs. LEuDER, BEACH, and PALMER. oi
Summer Township, in this county, the pas,
year, and syrup was made by it that far
surpassed, in color ard flavor, any that we
have ever seen made from the Sorghum. No
attempt was made to manufacture sugar. vet
Mr.. BEAcu informs US that part Of what he
made was crystalized considerably. The
above gentlemen estimate their yield Of syr.
up by this evaporator, at 100 gallons per
acre, with very imperfect mill. T. T.
JOHNSON. of Caledonia, Dubuque County,
however, made with one of them 263 gallons
per acre. There are four sizes Of the evapo-