, 1862-02-15
STATE SORGHUM CONVENTION.


The State Convention Of Sorghum growers
and manufacturers WAS held ut Joliet on the
18th inst, pursuant TO cll auade by d COM
mittee appointed for that purpose. Therewasa q
handsome attendance, and much interest mani
tested in the proceedings.
ORGANIZATION.
The Convention was organized by the choice
Of Or. Ira Knapp, Of Channahon, as President,
aid Lyman Mcachan, Of DuPage, as Secre-
tarJ.
< committee Of five was appointed to sug.
gcst subjects for discussion by the Conyen-
ton The committee was constituted rs fol-
lows: Joseph Shoemaker Of Florence, Oliver
Rted of Joliet, B. Luce Of Plainfeld, Oliver
Webster Of Troy, and John Fishburn Of VIII
mlngtoD. This committee reported the fol
lowing Subjects for discussion, which were
unanimously accepted, and the committee dis
charged:
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION.
The best method Of saving seed;
Deterioration of seed =
The preparation Of seed for planting;
Preparing soil for the crop;
Treatment after planting;
Stripping and harvesting;
Preparation Of cane after harvesting;
eanaasssoa'uRi ebapaeter ana Rqunlity of soils;
Character and quality OF manures;
Labor r.quired to raise the crop in comparison
Relative commercial ya1ne;'
average crop per acre;
Expense Of manufacturing per gallon.
The discussion was then opened with the
first subject named in the report:
BEST MEEHop OF SAVING SEED.
Mr.. Meacl.am, Of DuPagc, stated that he has
raised the cane for four years. BE cuts the
tops off some II or 10 inches, and lays them in
the sun, or where the mir will have free access:
$faC Y1JYcf mt In o11o1-nH r. HI Anr
had no trouble with his seed, if treated in this
manner.
Mr.. Knapp considered it as easy to save
sorghum as broom-cur seed, and advised the
use Of the SAME means US the preceding
speaker.
Mr. Shoemaker goes through the field, and
selects the 1ipest seed, adopting the same gen
era1 method Of curing as that Of the last
speaker.
Mr. Brandon had had some trouble in Saving
seed: He first sayed it in too large punches,
and he found that III the centre Of the bundle,
the eced was moldy and did not come up. He
advised that it be hung in small punches
where there was free access to the sun and air.
+ Mr. Reed had raised cane for four years, and
saved seed for that time with uniform success.
en- the field till il becomes wilted then hangs
it in bundles in the sun until it becomes per-
fvctly dry and then separates the seed from
the stalk, and heads itup in a -four barrel. He
las always succeeded in saving seed that ia
sure to comeup. The seed is hardy one: and
is not affected by dew or rain; nothing but
frost injuries it.
| At this point the Convention adjourned fol
dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
| The discussion on the best method of Say
| ing seed was resumed.
| Mr.. Tate states that he cut, the..secd when
black, and hung it up in the sun and air; The
| seed WIS fully ripe.
| Mr Reed said that kind Of green mold
would sometimes unaccountable collect upon
| it. When this wns present the seed would
not come up. A brown mold would not In
| jurc its vitality.
| DETERIORATION OF SEED.
| Mr.. Hale had discovered That the cane was
| dete1ior1ated from the admiAture Of broom
corn. His experience was that it would hybri
| die.
| Mr. Reed thought that the seed would SC
lar change as to loose its saceharine qualities
The dcteriorated cane ripens earlier than the
| pure cane, although he does not consider this
IN evidence Of deterioration. His experience
vas that Adjudication would result from
planting near broom corn. Planting near In
dian corn did not affect the quality, neither
cid the coffee corn, as they were out Of foWel
before the sofg ghum. He advised the planting
Of the best seed, but thought that there waS
no necessity Of importing seed from Algerls
or elsewhere. Sorghum and imphee should
not be allowed to ruiz, the result would bt
disastrous. Where the mixture prevails, hy
bridation is et1ected-there is great falling
of in the quantity and quality Of the product
Dr.. Knapp planted the seed in q dozen hill:
five years since, and saved the seed, which
planted an acre. He found in the field four Of
i've stalks altogether different from the rest o
the field; the stalk was tasteless and free from
saceharinc matter. He selected his seed from
stalks standing far distant from that, and hai
had no deterioration Of seed since.
PREPARATION OF SEED FOR PLANTING.
Mr. Reed stated that he never soaked seed
or prepared it in any other manner, He onl7
planted 1t, and it came up readily.
Mr. Meacham soaked his seed in water and
He thought that it would hasten It's germinat
Ing qualities, but found he was deceived.
Mr. Hill was opposed to soaking seed wheI
theground is warm and dry, or warm and vet
| when cold and wet he would advise soaking
He believed whatever hastened the trowtl
Ills eeed in coperas and chloride Of lime witt
good rcsults.
Nj. Shoemaker soaked his seed last year /,
warm water for three days, then planted. an'
In five days tho corn was above ground from
ono end Of the field to the other: His expert
encc was that growers generally plant to
deep. When he planted the seed dry he di
not succeed 60 favorab1y.
Mr., Reed had planted seed two years old
md It terminated properly.
| MIR. Bills hld planted seed three years oi
which came up well -.
Mr. Young planted old and rev seed, an
found that, Of the older, almost ovefy kernE
getminated. 49,. i.
:.,. PREPARATION OF SOIL.
ii .M1. HiiIs thought that everything depende
: upon the preparation OF taa'so1. The roo
| e1tcnd deap'y into the :son, aaA the grour