Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-01-24

make extra exertions to have the best Fair
of the season.
! The remainder of the afternoon was spent
in discussing the interests of the Society, but
we have not space to give a full report, and
must make our notes short The session
continued two days. On the evening Of the
first day the fence question was ably dis.
cussed. #- #..# ~
SHALL WE FENCE IN OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS
| INSTEAD OF FENCING THEM OUT?
! Mr.. Wallace advocated the prohibiting of
live stock from running at large. He re-
marked that it is the old common law prin-
cple that etety man should take care Of his
own stock. Mr.. Wallace further stated as
low estimate, the fences in this State have
cost twenty six million dollars the natural
annual decay and interest on this sum. at
fair computation, will make $4,000 900 that
it costs the State to keep up its present sys-
tenn and amount of fences each year. He
said that on an average, one half the present
amount Of fence would enclose pastures of
sufficient capacity to slbsist all domestic an
imals; this would save $4,000, 900 in the
original cost, and 50 100000 in keeping good
the annual wear and tear, and unless this
system is adopted, eighteen millions of acres
of as fertile as soil as ever the sun shone up
on, must remain uncultvated. Some eight
or ten of the members took part in the dis
cussion, but we have not space for more at
this time.
PREMIUM ESSAYS.
For the best essays of the practical expert
ences of farmers and stock -raisers, preIIniuir!s
were awarded as follows:
For the best essay on the Hog of eight
pages of foolscap manuscript, Dr. G. Sprague,
Island Grove, Butler county, diploma and
5000: .~- -.
On Sheep, to n. K Merritt, of Powesheik
county, diploma and $40.
On Bee culture, Mrs. Upper, Mahaska
county, diploma and $40.
On Hedging, Samuel Robb, lama county,
diploma and $40.
These essays will be published in the Re-
ports for 1861. There were seventeen entries |
in this class, but the above were only worthy
Of premiums. ,...
SORGHUM. -
Best pint of Syrup, N. B. Sexton; Burling-
ton, SIS.
There were some ten or twelve entries, but !
the rules were not lived up to, and the one
premium only was awarded. There were
three entries of Sugar, but the competitors
did not furnish the details and satisfactory
account Of the process of making. Our
friend Bozarth of Butler county, had splen-
did specimen of sugar which would have
taken the premium had there been enough of
it. As this article must become a staple pro-
duction in our State, we would advise farmers
generally to plant from one TO ten acres to
Sorghum the coming year. The amount
of syrup produced in this State in 1860 was !
|, 167, 3+S gallons, and Gen Wilson has sta.
tistics that ensure him that the year 1861 has |
doubled the amount of 1860. In statement
he says: BY the production of Sorghum |
and Imphee sugar and syrup, we have saved !
to the State the coming year upwards of
! 900, 600 dollars. Such has been our sue
cess in these items that we shall doubtless, |
in year or two. more than make sufficient
syrup for all home uses and some for cxpor- |
taton, and perhaps one fourth of all our con- |
of sugar. Much of the syrup made |
this year is fully equal 10 the best refined
syrup made from southern cane" Let US |
then produce our own syrup and sugar, and
not be dependent upon rebels for our sweet !
ening. We consider this plant national |
benefit of incalculable value to the North al /
this time. The Chinese Sugar Cane at the
present, promises for us and the world |
a great benefit. The magnitude of the bless |
ing of such boon surpasses the capacity of
human conception to comprehend. From |
the census of 1859, Black Hawk county pro- |
duccd 7,245 gallons of syrup. We are GER
tain that it has been doubled the past year. |
We shall have more to say on this subject
This subject was discussed SOMEWHAT
Our farmers are waking up to this important