The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1863-05-06
Wisre1lamsnns Beadimg.
Sorgho Past, Present a d Future.

sorgho-Past, Present a q Future.
EDS. PRAIRIE FARMER This plant
which was grown in the United States for
the first time in the year 1855, is now be.
coming agreat staple article for exporting;
yet nine -tenths of those that raised it in
1855 gave it up as worthless, not knowing
how to raise or manufacture it, There was
more sorgho raised that year than in the
next two years-but few enterprising men
kept it be.ore the public: and have made it
a success. In the years I86l-'62 there
were about one thousand barrels Of the syr :.
up sold in the Chicago market, with very
slow sale and low prices. The past fall
and winter there has been over ten thousand
barre's sold in this market alone, at better
price and quicker sales. The demand has
been greater than the supply, and the pros
pet now is that the coming year there will
be sent to the market 100000 barels-Gn
fact one firm has already contracted for
II OOo b.rrels.) One hundred thousand
barrels at 5 I6 per barrel, is 5 ,6OO,OOO.-I
The questions which naturally arise with
the farmers are-WilI there be cash de
mand for it ? Will this amount overstock
the market2 Let US review: The sale
Of syrups in the United States for the past
four years was
Gu1lms.
ls59-Forcign syrup< imported go: % ,2J3 10
Louisiana syrups'.'' '''''2 :. ,o67 100
IUta 49,. ~ 800 91U
ls6o-Forcgn syrup< imported ..... . PA 100
Louisiana syrups ....... Is ,59I .612
Total. .... .47 ,3lS SIT
lS6l-Forcign syrup5 imported 80. -, S53 $50
Louisiana sy'ups........ .... .l9, ovo 900
Total ....... % 1871 $50
l>G2-Forcign syrups Imported 49,. 20 .G5o, 400
Louisiana syrups... 81 OILS 900
Total .... i , Cos 1903
Total average: Forti4n years SON All
l.plll>laI!a. - Is :. 81
Average PER year,. .Jy,>o} Y5l
There is ! heavy import duty now on the
forei5n article, and Louisiana Syrups arc
minus and will our lDO,UDD barrels, or
4,UOOOOO gallons, supply the demand?
th'nk not. The next query is. Can it be
raised at these prices large scale ? 1t
IS conceIcl fact tina, it costs only IS per
acre to grow it, and it yields, tr4en 'oeX cW-
Nr"ttJ, from two hunl,ed to three hundred
gallons per acre, which is only g.. cents
per gallon. Gathering and manu!ac ucing
is very simple with the improved machines
and only COSTS about five cents per gallon.
! The syrup, alter being refined, bring, the
highest price, or more than foreign >yrups
Tn easiest way to raise \ large crop is to
dill in the seeds a crn planter with a
drill attached, did gooI business last year
set them to drill very shaIlow-rot over
one inch deep-ro'l the SOIL soon as lanted
be sure and have pure seed if possible, as It
is as easy to raise a full crop rs half a &c
put the seed in ba3 and 50 k in warm wa
ter over night, and bury in warm SOL OF
straw pile, until the sprouts start drill il
rows about four feet apart-cast and west
or the heavy winds mIy blow it over; pu
about two pounds Of seed Of medium SIZE
per acre-(very plump seeds, more } d,
not plant in this way until warm weather
Seed planted last season from the 18th O
=, April to the 18th May, did not ripen as 500,
5 as seeds planted from the 18th of May unit
the 18th Of June. We generally have
i cold rain about the first of May, which in
jures the canes and il the seed is just ger
ninating, it will kill it. When the cane
get up about two inches high, harrow tn
ground over, crosswise Of the rows. Tn
roots are so strong it will not injure tn
canes, but viii kill all the weeds; an,
when up four inches high, harrow with tn
rows, knocking out the front tooth to tn
, harrow; then plow or cultivate OUT an
- the cane will take care of itself
Another good way to raise it and plan
:, early, is to plow the soil deep, then take
stirring pillow and throw two burrows tc
= gelher, and plant on the ridge. two and
half feet apart, by three ard half eet
can be planted earlier in this way than tn
other, as the cold rains do not affect it, tn
= seed being up high and dry. the water Sc
-, ting between the rows. 1t can be plowe
:, out when the canes are small, as the sma
>. canes are no. liable to get covered up, bein
u so high. Pua ten to fifteen seeds in the b !
As there is as much saccharine matter in
- small main stalk. As in large one: cons,
auensly, We can grow three times as muc
to the acre, as when few stalks to the bill
Do not &c, humbasged with some new e:
rie:y Of seed with great name, as do n.