The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-01-31

A Sorghum Convention III Dayton, Ohio.
A Sorghum Convention has recently been
held in Dayton We extract from the Gin
ciuuati Commercial the following interest
ing account Of the Convention and its
proceedings:
The Convention this morning is attended
by an increased number of delegates and
interested visitors. The appearance Of most
of the men indicates that they are from the
agricultural class of the community, but
they are evidently of the more intelligent
and enterprisng portion. One is a little
surprised to see so many aged men-even
those whose heads are silvered, or bald with
threescore Cears-interesled and even prac-
ticaly engaged in this new enterprise
There is also a considerable representation
from those steady, conservative people, the
Quakers, Shakers, and Dunkers Alto
getl.er, the Convention is one Of the most
substantial and reliable sort. There is no
element of humbug in it; matter of fact and
scientific experiment is the sum and sub.
stance Of all that is said and done.
The great number and variety 6f sam
pies, both of syrups and sugars, corrobor-
ated the practical character of the Conven-
ton. There are on the platform I41 different
samples Of syrups, "a samples OF sugar, and
Of rum made from the eiuse of the syrup.
Most of the sugar and syrup is as fair and
delicious as any we ever saw made from
the Southern cane. The sugar is decided
improvement on any we saw last wear; the
color is as fair as can be desired for brown
sugar, but it may still be improved in the
size and softDeSs of the grain
Of the rum we are no judge, but it said
to be as good as any imported article.
Besides these products, the 6ogasse. or
stalks from which the juice has been ex-
pressed, has been used in this city in the
manufacture of coarse paper; elsewhere it
has been used as part of the fuel for heating
the furnaces.
Another indication OF the practical nature
of the Convention, is the operation, in one
corner of the hall, of an evaporator, heated
by small steam pipes running backward aud
forward on the bottom of the pan, the steam
being generated from an army portable fur
mace. Within ten minutes tom the time
the cold cane juice is put into the evapora-
tor, it is drawn off thick syrup, and passed
around the audience. This process has
boon repeated frequently, both with and
without the use of lime in the juice, by
which it was clearly demonstrated that the
lime destroyed much of the acid Of the juice,
and gave more palatable syrup.
SEED, SOIL AND CULTIVATION.
The committee to whom was referred the
subject of seed, soil and cultivation, report
ed as follows:
That the bulk of information presented to
the Convention proves the Chinese Sor-
ghum to be the best adapted, in all particu-
lars, TO the climate Of this region.
With regard to the Otaheita, your com
mtttee think that the limited experience we
have had, being. confined to few individuals
and under local circumstances, although, as
far as tested being encouraging, will no;
warrant them TO do more than recommend
In for more extensive trial.
SoH.--Any good soil that viii produce
fair crops of Indian corn, is suitable for the
growth of sorghum--a sandy loan being
perhaps, the most suitable. The prepare
ton of the soil may, perhaps, be most con
cisely explained by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS same
process as any good farmer would use in
pairing for what he would expect to produce
good crop of Indian corn.
CaltivotiOn.-In small patches, or where
help Is plenty, we recommend drilling in
rows; but for large fields it is more conve-
niently worked in hills. containing fVs aud