Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-04-20
Information to Planters.-sorghum.

w call the aGGentl0n OF our agricultural
readers at this time to the advantages Of
cultivating extensively the Chinese sugar
cane. We see announced by our cotempo-
raries of this city that one of our most en-.
terprising citizens, Capt. Charles Y. Morris,
proposes establishing an extensive and COM
plete establishment for the manufacture Of
sorghum syrup at some convenient point on
the canal, between this oity and Lynchburg.
Circulars will soon be sent round to plant
ers along the canal to ascertain the extent
to which each will cultivate this most i'm.
portant crop, and encourage and be benefit
ted by ;. this enterprise. From his expe-
rience and success in refining sugar in this
city upon large scale, and the possession
of all the most improved machinery requi-
site for such an establishment, no one could
be better qualified for conducting and estab.
fishing such an enterprise.
The Chinese sugar cane is native of
Northern China, and of about the same lat
itude as Middle Virginia. From expert.
ments- tried in various parts of our country,
it is found to flourish wherever Indian corn
will grow. Its culture is similar to the lat.
ter, and its period of maturity varies from
three to four months. We have known it
to ripen at the foot of the mountains when
planted as late as the first of June, though
earlier planting is advisable. 1t will yield
a surer crop if planted on moderately stiff
clay soil, as its height and weight of seed
render it liable to falling down from winds,
which greatly ipjures.it, when grown on
more porous land.
Sorghum will yield about five times the
forage, per acre, of any other of the grasses,
when, cut and cured entire. 1t yields an
equal amount of blades with corn. owing to
the multiplying of its stalks from single
seed. 1t will yield of grain an equal a.
mount to any other cereal we groy. There
are a variety of other purposes which it has
been found by experiment to subserve in
the arts, as paper making, dye stuffs, &C..
But its special value to US at this time is
for the syrup made from the juice Of its
stalks. According to varying circumstance
of soil, seasons, cultivation and facilities for
manufacture, the yield of syrup may be
safely estimated at from fifty to one hundred
and fifty gallons per acre. The latter con-
sideration is by far the greatest at this time
with our planters. With rude mills and
irregular motive power, great portion of
the juice, and by some persons considered
the best, the most concentrated and least
watery, is not extracted from, the canes.
In addition to the advantages of steam
and improved large sized iron mills, of
three or FIVE cylinders, to make a good,
wholesome article of syrup, that will keep
without becoming acid, and that will have
a good taste and appearance, filters, clari6-
ers, succession. of evaporators, coolers,
skimmers, &c., are essential. Boiled in a
single pot, it is liable to many injuries, and
especially to charring. Experience, only,
can tell the proper amount of alkali to add
to temper it, for which saccharometers are
often called into requisition; also, to deter
mine the point to which it.should be boiled.
In all these our planters generally are def
cient. 1t is to supply these deficiencies
and to encourage the growth of this valua-
BILE crop, which may be made to great ex-
tent to substitute meat in these short ration
times, that the enterprise we have alluded
to is designed. Whig.