, 1862-04-19

General Sorghum Convention at
Adrian, NI1c11.
1from our own Correspondent
ADRIAN, Mich, April Is, 1851.
Some few weeks since the Lcnawee County
{Michigan} Agricultural Society issued q call
for Convention Of Sorghum growers and
manufacturers, to be composed Of represent
atiyes of the various Northwestern States, and
al such others as might feel disposed to
come, to meet at this place, on the 18th and
17tL inst, to consider the sorghum question
in all its bearings, and more particularly to
discuss the following propositions:
1.-The kind Of soil adapted to the growth Of
sorghum.
2-Selecliou OF seed.
3-Prcparations for planting.
Treatment Of The plant during its growth.
o-Time and mode Of harvesting, and treatment
Of the cane after harvesting.
Proper time for crushing, and achinery suit
able for that purpose.
s-Evporating and best method therefor
9Aethod and means OF refining the syrup aud
grainipg the sugar.
In order to induce the exhibition Of what
had been accomplished during the past year,
For the best 10 pounds OF sorghum engar, $50
For the I'd best do. northumberland. %
For the Sd best tdo...-....--........,,.. ID
Best two gallons sorghum syrup .......... 20
Second best two gallons du--.................. 10
Pursuant to the call quite a large number of
gentlemen representing the States Of Ohio,
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, engaged
either in the growth OF sorghum, its manutac-
ture into syrup or sugar, and manufacturing
the machinery therefor, assembled in Blddle's
Hall IN this city to-day.
The convention was called to order at 2
o'clock, and On motion, Samuel. LArHRor al
Adrian was chosen chairman, and Dr. J. q.
Champion, also Of this city, Secretary.
On motion Of ofr. Richarde Of Michigan, d
committee OF i've was appointed to take into
consideration the propriety Of forming either
Northwestern or Ststc permanent orglniza-
tion OF society for the purpose OF encouraging
the growth Of sorghum, and its manufacture
into saccharine substances in the Northwest,
The committee chosen for this purpose were:
Andrew Howell Of Lenawec county, Alexan-
der Richards Of do, Theron Fowler of Hills
dale county, N. II. Bodwel Of Washtenau
county, and James Weeks OF Jackson county
4 Committee On Rules and Regulations WAS
also appointed, consisting Of b1essrs Richards,
Fowler and Weeks.
ACommittee on naming Judges to award pre-
miume and to report on the yarisus Evapora-
tors on exhibition Was appointed, who named
the following gentlemen as Judges under
their various heads:
On Sy,up.-George Doolitt1e OF Paincsvillo,
Ohio; r Il hitne{ Of Lcnawee county, Indiana
John Standdart Of Asdison, Indiana.
On Sugdr.-A. Barrow, John D. Cook, and
Indiana.
EraEordfo,s.- Allen Of Madison: l..
r; BodWe1l OF Washtenaw county, aud Jacob
Baker Of Palmyra
A discussion OF some length here took
place, as to the proper construction to be
put upon the offers OF premiums for syrup
and sugar, made by the Agricultural Society
one member contending persistently and at
great length that the offers covered any
amount, however small, as being sample Of
two gallons Of syrup and ten pounds Of sugar,
while others, and in this they agreed with the
officers Of the Society, that the amount nctu.
ally presented for pre- MUM must be ten
pounds ot sugar and TWO gallons Of syruE
and not sample Of that amount; and it was
thus determined, while at the same time il
was voted that the samples smaller than the
amount named should receive the attention
Of the committees and hare honorable men
ton, if found worthy.
Tie questions named in the above call were
then taken up for discussion, scriatin,-the
first being.
1.-THE KIND OF SOIL ADAPTED TO TIE
GROWTH oF SORGHUM.
S, ". STANDARD Of Huron county, Ohio, sale
that good corn soil was good cane soil-ligh1
sandy fcanl; it is sure to make the best sugar
Heavy soil would produce q large growth O
cane, but it would produce more vegetable
and less saecharine matter.
j. w JAckeon of st. Joseph county, Mich
always found that cane grown on d Light sand1
soil lnakcs the best syrup and grlnuiates tht
best.
John KNAPP of Fairfield, Mich, agreed viii
tie last two speakers. He had planted on {
planted late, and it did not ripen, get II made
good syrup and granulated perfectly.
4. Foster Of Hiilsdalc county, Mich, las
raised cane for the last four years, and has
been very euccessfuL He found the best sol
to be a light sandy loan, with q descending
vegetable OF Well-rotted stable manure.
Mr. Ambrose Of Washtenaw county, hat
planted on a grarclly loanl--tle field having
descending Southern exposure, He had alsc
/ planted On dark timber land soil. He coull
discover no difference in thesyrup. He think
the difference is more in the manufacture thar
in the soil. The heavy soil produces q 1arg,
growth, and consequently larger quantity o
vegetable matter than the cane grown on
| Lighter soil. By this means it requires more
heat and q larger time to eraporate, and il
consequently, when manufactured, Of darke
color, caused By the heat. The same is tru,
| OF cane raised on black clay soil.
John senice, Of Fayetteville. Mich, frs
! used rich, low, mucky soil. The cane grev
very large. Next year he tried it on light
loamy, ridge soil, well manured viii
| fine, well rotted manure. The cane Was no
more sacharine and less vegetable matter. II,
opinion Is that sorghum does best on q light
! sandy soil with Eellrottcd manure. On til
low 1nucky soil it grows too much to stalk
t William B. Cory Of Lima, Ind, thinks th
| prairie yields the most cane, the woodlan
lightest soil yields the Highest colored syrup
but let the cane raised on prairie soil be undo
cover for some time, and its product become
lighter In our vicinity prairie soil will PR
duce from 800 to $50 gallons to the acre th
openings from 120 to 200. The color of th
syrup is increased by the boiling-.that raise
on the prairie soil requiring more boiling tia
that on Tie lighter soils. Light colored sol
with southern exposure, with stream OF IF:
ter in the same direction,nea By, will admit
earlier planting and later gTowth-and
rirens much better. The ripper the cane
the ffeer it will be from vegetable matter, an
consequently sou get better article Of syruE
which will be more sure to granulate
n. s. Wilson Of Raisin thinks sand IN
gravel the best for cane, and that second Gro
viii be letter than the first
Mr.. D. d. Tooker Of Raisin, Michigan, thinI
rich sandy loan will yield the best cane,
should be we'll manured. Wheat Etraw ploWe
under, also ashes, will increase the yield.
hr. Mann Of Fulton county, Ohio, think
3 sandy loam will do best. It should be VT
manurcd. Manure warns the soil, At
warmth is highly necessary, at planting
fact the cane will not grow until the grour
is warm. By doing this the cane turns o.
more syrup, and Of better quality.
planted last year half an ecre in light san6
loan and the latter yielded double the amou.
Of syrup, aud of better quality.
| G. ". lngraham, Of Jackson county, Mich
said that his experience thus far proved th
cane raised Oh light, warm soil produced Il
best syrup, and also the best sugar. No eva
orator will exclude all the vegetable matte
but if the cane could always be ripe, tho
oughly so, think the cane raised in II
heavy soil woUld he as good Let the cs
be thoroughly ripe, and its granu1ating qua
tics arc greatly increased. Green cane,
course, contains more vegetable matter, an
consequently, Hore grape sugar, or glucos
: The cane, in my opiuion, should have
carly start and get thoroughly ripened-
! this be go. although it may groW on hear
soil, 1t will make good syrup and granula
o. NJ. Brainard, Of Marion county, low