The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-03-28
Agricultural.
From the Germantown Telegraph
Sorghum and its Culture,

Although Sorghum, It's culture, &C.,
have been the theme of frequent news
paper essays, yet from the increasing
interest manifested by the community at
large in this comparatively new plant,
and the rial Ualue which | am sure it
possesses in the catalogue of our home
products, l am induced again to call at
tention, through the columns of the TEL
egrnph, to the encouragement and de-
velopment Of this branch of our domes-
tic economy. l have said domestic econ
omy, because L believe unhesitatincly
that the moment Pennsylvania shall have
introduced the culture of the Chinese
Sugar Cane regularly into her system of
husbandry, she will add to her positive
wealth annually, over and above her
present savings, more than q million of
dollars.
The aggregate of srup made in Chcs-
ter and adjacent counties the past season,
cannot have fallen short Of $4,000 gal
Ions, gain OF two to one over last year
And from present appearances Ches err
county alone will exceed this quantity
the coming season.
The sorghum plant may be said to be
vigorous and determined grower, yet,
being of foreign Introduction 1t has been
liable to failure from disease induced
from the rigor of our climate, unless ITS
nature and habifs are cuttuiiy stuffed.
While the full grown plant far ou;-
strips the Indian corn, its seeds are so
small that one gram Of corn will out
weigh twenty of Them Hence the plant
in the early stages of its growth must
necessarily be delicate and feeble. Here
lies the only critical point in its culture.
In poor soil, with chance fros nigh
after it has come up, and dry, parchiug
winds by day, the plant sometimes sick
ems, and either becomes the prey of in
sects, or dies outright.
The following embraces briefly the
outline of method of culture which
has. 50 far as my experience and obser-
walton have reached, fully counteracted
all constitutional tendency to disease,
and secured q vigorous aud heal nv
growth throug bout. Any other method
however, by which the diminutive plant
shall be stimulated in its infancy to
vigorous growth and the other conditions
lions fulfilled, may succeed equally we'll.
In choice of soil select upland, light
loan or sandy. 1t should be of sufli-
Gent strength to produce forty or fifty
bushels of corn to the acre. Plow deeply
in March, and cultivate thoroughly in
early part of May. Procure pure, we'll
rlpened seed, four quarts to the acre :,
and for the same amount Of ground $50
to 200 pounds of finely powdered super
phosphate of lime, to be applied in the
drills. Scald the seed, and keep moist
and warm till it has begun TO sprout :
dry in plaster, drop in light burrows, and
cover to the dep of ouc-half TO three
fourthc of an inch When up, and the
plant has four or Eve leaves, it should
be partially thinucd, but this process
should be conduc cd with care, seeking
20 retain the strongest plants, to be Sc
lected from on subsequent occasions,
until reduced to s or 10 inches in the
row. When the cane is ihick enough
without the suckers, advani age will re-
suit from theirremoyal, in the subsequent
handling, and a heavier crop will be
realized Such treatment, with thorough
cultivation till about three feet high,
will secure a crop, varying according to
! he season, of from $50 to $50 gallons
of sirup to the acre.
The cane may be regarded as FL to
work up VIXEN majority of the heads
have become brown. At this sage it
may be cut of, (obliqucly) at the ground,
the tops Topped off below the upper joint,
bladcd and tied into bundles, and shock
cd or piled where it can be sheltered
from the sun and weather. In this con-
dliion it may remain, if necessary, and
without damage, for some weeks.
Of the cost of manufacture | may say
that slrup, such as sample, can be made
with profit for Is cents per gallon, when
the cane is properly handled and fur
nished in suitable quantity.
need only speak in general terms of
the method of manufac ure, as my build.
ings and the fixtures are free for exami-
nation, and their owner always willing
to render any information that his limited
, experience can suggest.
l use Clark's vertical three-rollcr,
four-horse mill, and Cooks patent evap-
orator, No. 5, capable of producing II
to Is gallons of srup per hour, accord
ing to the richness of the juice.
1t Is an interesting fact connected with
the crop of the past season, that the
juice, weighed by sscharometer, ranged
from 8 to II degrees, while ordinarily it
has weighed from 6 to IL degrees. This
difference Is a.trihntahln | think IN thn