The Hillsborough recorder., 1864-04-27
From The Petersburg Express.
SORGHUM AND BACON.
G,senssille, Va. April 18th, 1864.

Il
G,.enssille, Va, April 18th. 1864.
DrAa ExpREss :--I send you communi-
ca.ion ~ a subject II much Importance 70
our people--l might add 10 our cause. We
need food, and il Il now settled fact that
mere can be made by planting Sorghum
,han any Other crop. The sweet potato
approximstes il more nearly than anything
else NE cultivate. but unfortunately Y =
rather uncertain, ant wi,hal il very diiiicsli
90 keep. The farmer should plant some oil
all our staple crops the seasons tciH suit
mart aud perhaps al. His aggregate will
be much larger than ~ ronhnng himself
Ia ons or two, as he will then have proflta-
ble employment for every season. The
cnly drawback 10 large crop Of Sorghum
il the scarcity o. boilers. can you suggest
sremcd,s
saRoHua 4 SUBSTITUTE ToR nAeoS.
The scarcity of bacon 10 the confedera-
es naturally susgcs,s the inquiry. ca" any
thing be done 10 supply lts deficiency: y
there any other article We can raise NJ in"-
der4,r cost, and in requisite quantities.
WHICH NAV lie used - a substitute lor ba-
conf The question is one which expert
ence has already answered aflrmatisely'
and that article j. Sorghum.
A brief analysis its claims will satisfy
any candid mind Of the correctness ~ the
aboye assertion. Its healthtulnfss V "
longer a prnbiem. Ii is conceded by al
whe have used ii, 10 be mot only innocent
hui n whnissrme diet. The next qaestiof
.f interest Is The quantity whirh NAV D
prnduced. The uield varies lrnm eight,
10 me hundred and iii,y gallons 10 the acr'
ii good thick syrup. each gallon equal y
fr.m FIVE 10 six pounds of bscan. II vii
thus be readily perceived that very e'
Aeres on each iarm. planted IN Sotshu"
will produce q supply equal toany deman
l,k.l, 10 arise, aud that without inateriall
lrssenin. The grain crop. Let u be NOR
nreci.e. aud by way uf ILLUSTRATION, TAI
ihr State of Virginia. IL contains AZ az
rieuIturaI population (ou,side oi The Fed
.ral lmes.l of al least 100000. have y
hesiancy in saving len gallons ei syru
NAV be made 10 each inhabitant the pre-
,nt wear. II this be true. VIC have els'
millions nf gallons Of Sorghum. equal
mure than lurty millions af pounds oil D.
con. And this 10 our State only.
The writer's experience justihes the 2
,ertion. that more than ten gallons may
made 10 each head in family, having pr
duced more than that proportion the pa
yrsr. aud thi, result produced with We
rude machinery for expressing The lui'
Ii could have been easily trebled with pr
rer fixtures Tor expressing and bollii
To oh,ain the above result. did not g
ti,ate in Sorghum more than one. forti'
Of such land as was seeded 10 corn, peas
no,atnes. An acre nf land that Will pl
duee' four barrels ui corn. will yield .
hundred AMI twenty gallons Of Sorghu
fully equal 10 GOO pounds Of bacon
nur barrels of com will not taise and
ten more ,hau $50 pounds "f pork. u
i.ws tlen. in an economical We've Z
sotghom i four.fold cheaper than bac
But il has other advantages. " - subj
10 lew casualties. The plants hardy,
sis,ing in a remarkable degree extreme'
drought and moisture. and when matur
will wait for the mills. with little io
for several months. | have lett the =
and fodder cut out Of the account, and !
are excellent food for stock, and the y
IL abundant. In conclusion, y bali wh
have stated be true, land assume me
innate is low is i, not evident that
ghum is a good substitute for bacon,
withal remunerative cropF Then iet
farmers plant largely, and we shall
cease to hear Of extravagsnt prices ioE