The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-05-06
THE SUGAR CANE QUESTION.
General Sorghum Convention at Adrian
Michigan.
Correspondence Chicago Tribune

| 2-SeectiOn Of seed.
3-Preparations for planting
| 4-Time for planting.
| 5-Treatment ofthc plant during its growth.
Slime and mode Of harvesting, and treatmen
OF the cane after harvesting.
! Proper time for crushing, and machinery suit
nble for that purpose
! 8. .Evaporatng and best method therefor.
9-Mctbod and means of refining the syrup AM
graining the sugar.
In order to induce the exhibition Of wha
had been accomplished during the past year
the Society offered the following premiums:
Forthe best 10 pounds of sorghum sugar ..S3'
F6r the ID best do o.................... 2'
For the Sd best do. Observation-Disclosures. III
Best two gallons sorghum syrup. ..............2 q
Second best two gallons do ...................l III
Pursuant to the call, quito large numbe
Of gentlemen representing the States Of Ohio
Michigan, Indians, Illinois and Iowa, engaged
either in the growth of sorghum, its mannfac
ture into syrup or sugar, and manufacturing
the machinery therefor, assembled in Biddei
Hall in this city to day.
The convention was called to order at two
o'clock, and on motion, Samuel LsLhrop, o
Adrian, was chosen chairman, aud DR.. j. III
Champion, also Of this city, Secretary.
On motion Of Mr.. Richards, Of Michigan. a
committee of five was appointed to take into
consideration the proprety Of forming either
a Northwestern or State permanent organize
ton or society for the purpose Of encour ,ging
the growth Of sorghum and its manufact
into sacch arine substances in the Northwest.
The colnmittae chosen for this purpose were
Andrew Howell, of Lchawec unity, Alexsn
der Richards, Of do, Theron Fowler. of Hills
d z Y a
county, and James Weeks, OF Jackson county
A Committee on Rules ard Regulations
was also arpo nj, y, consisting Of Messrs Rich.
ards, Fowler and Weeks.
A Committee on naming Judges to award
premiums and to report on the various Evap.
orators on exhibition. was appointed, who
named the following gentlemen as Judges un'
der their various heads:
On Syrup-Georee Doolittlc, of Painesville Ohio
r. H Whitney, OF Lenawee county, Indiana; John
Standart, of Madison, Indiana.
On Suoar-A. Barrow. John d. Cook. and Jo
seph II Patterson, III of Lenawce county. Indiana
utporators-Stephen Allen, OF Madison L. w
Bodwen, Of Washtenaw county, and Jacob Baker, o
Palmyra.
A Discussion Of some length here took place
as to the proper construction to be put upon
the offers Of pre- NUNS for syrup AMI sugar
mad" by the Agricultural Society; one ~ cm
Der contcnding persistAntIy and nj great length
that the offers covered INV amount, however
small, as heirg a sample Of two gallons Of syr
up and ten pounds Of sugar, while others, and
in this they agreed with the officers Of the So.
cie'y, that the amount actually presented for
premium must he ten pounds Of sugar and
two gallons Of syrup and not Sample Of that
amount; and il was thus determined while at
the same time it was voted that the samples
smaller than the amount named should re-
ceive u q attention Of the committees aud have
honorable mention, il found worthy.
The questions named in the above call were
then taken up for discussion, seriotim-the
first being:
THE KIND OF SOIL ADAPTED TO THE GROWTH
OF SORGHUM.
s. w. STANDARD. Of Huron county, Ohio,
said that good corn soil was good cane soil
light sandy loan; it is sure to make the best
sugar. Heavy soil would produce a larga
growth Of cane, but it would produce more
yegets3!" and less saccharine matter.
J. w. Jackson, Of St. Joseph cousty, Mich ,
always found that cane grown on light san
dy soil makes the best syrup and graduates
the best.
John Knapp, o. Fairfield, Michigan. asreed
with the last two speakers. He had planted
on sandy loam greeusward, and although he
planted late, aud it did not ripen, yet it mad {,
good syrup and granulated Leriectly.
A. Foster, Of HiIIsdale county, Mich, has
raised cane for the last four years, and has
been very successful. He found the best soil
to be light sandy loam, with descending
southern or eastern exposure. made rich by
vegetable or well rotted stable manure.
Mr.. Ambrose, Of Washtenaw county, had
planted on a gravey l"am-the field having
a descending Southern exposure. He had
also planted on dark timber land SOIL He
could discover no difference in the syrup. tie
thinks the difference is more in the manufac.
ture than in the soil. The heavy soil proju.
cos large growth, end consequently larger
quantity Of vegetable matter than the cane
grown on lighter soil. BY this means it re-
quires more heat and longer time to evspo
rate, and is, consequently, when uauufac
tured, Of darker color, caused by the heat
The same is true OF cane raised on black
clav soil.
John Senice, Of Fayetteville, Michigan first
used rich, low, mucky soil. The cane grew
very large. Next year he tried it on light
osmy, ridge sol, well manured with fac,
well rotted manure. The care was not 50
large as the previous year, but contained mo;e
succharine and less vegetable matter. Ny
opinios is that sorghum does best on light
sandy soil with we'll rotted manure. On the
low mucky soil il grows too much To st,k.
William b Cory, Of Lima, Indiana, thinks
the prairie yiells the most cane, the woodland
next, and the oak openings the lightest. Tho
llghtest soil yields the ligbtest colured syrup,
hut let the cane raised 90 prairie soil be un.
der cover for some time, and its product Le.
comes lighter. In our vicinity prairie soil
will produce from 800 to $50 gallons to the
acre; the openings from 100 10 200. The col.
or Of the syrup il increased by the boiling
that raised on the prairie soil requiring more
boiling than that on the lighter sells. Light
coIored soil, with southern exposure, with a
stream Of water 10 the same direction, near
by, will admit Of earlier planting and later
growth-and il ripens much better. The Vi
per the cane is the frecr il will be from vege.
table matter, aud consequently you get bet.
ter article Of syrup, which will be more sure
TO granulate.