Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-02-18

: from the cane, but il could not be n ade her
, from cane raised from the same seel.
Mr., Dow favored soaking seed, deep pillow
, ing and planting four feet apart each way, be
cause he could then cultivate it each way
would leave ten stalks in hill medium Stalk
the best got 14o gallons of syrup per acre
on sandy soil; plants just as soon as GROUND
is ready, hoes once and then cultivates three
times. He had transplanted cane with gooC
success, and it was less work than to hoe the
first time.
Adjourned till nine o'clock tomorrow.
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
"WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8.
The Convention took up the question OIL
harvesting, including crushing and evaporat
ing, with the process of the same also the
value of the stalks and seeds
Mr.. Wiley said in Illinois great care was
taken to preserve the leaves, and many used
them for horse feed the following summer,
and found them excellent. He saw a SPLEEN
did, sleek lot of cattle on the farm of friend
who fed them; his friend also fed seed to
horses with good results. A friend in Ohio
! thought the seed and leaves worth SO per
| acre as feed for stock.
Mr.. Gridley said sorghum yielded a large
amount of leaves. He left them on the
ground four or five days to dry, in good
weather, with good results. Leaves are good
feed for sheep, but not so good for working
horses, being too loosening. Stock of all
kinds like them well.
Mr.. Davis thought both seed and leaves
valuable for feed. Leaves were much better
and are easier saved than wild hay. A little
seed was good for horses-say two quarts
mixed with other grains. He strips off the
leaves with a stick crooked at the end, and
craf xvif oil 10
Mr.. Gridley gathered what he could with
horse-rake and the rest with fork.
Mr.. Wilcox thought the question of most
Importance now before the Convention was,
the best way to manufacture good syrup.
Mr.. Seward wanted his cane to dry two
days after cutting; gathers leaves with a
barley-fork, throwing it in piles; thought this
a much better way than to gather part with a
rake.
Mr.. Clason had kept seventy sheep on
sorghum seed, and has found it better than
anything he had ever used, preferring it to
roots or corn.
Mr.. Corwin asked, "Can cane be worked
without stripping off the leaves?"
Mr.. Hamilton worked some with leaves on
that vas just as well.
The question OF harvesting was taken up.
Mr.. Hamilto', much preferred stripping be-
fore harvester !; cut between third and Sec
ond joint, piled it loose on rails so as to al
low it to dry, covered it with begasse.
Mr.. Corwin thought the most expense was
the stripping for that purpose he uses a
thin wooden knife. In Iowa the leaves are
not worth stripping for fodder at present
price of help. He makes a shed tight on the
west and north side, as the winds from those
directions cause the sap in the cane to evap-
crate, and piles it as tight as possible to keep
out the air. Heating does not injure cane.
He thought the top joint should be left on the
seed, as it contains properties that injure the
syrup. friend cut two joints from the top
and one from the ground, and it made fine
sugar. He thought the seed worth SO per
acre for feed; he feeds it to everything; cat.
tie relish it; he noticed that his horses left
plenty of hay and ate begasse three years
old, but thinks begasse Injuries colts by CIV
ing them cholic. Cattle will live upon it. A
neighbor thought what cattle like is good
for them. He had been asked does Sorghum
impoverish land did not think it did mate
rally. Never strip off the leaves till you
are ready to cut up the cane. He had found
it injurious.
Mr.. Seward thought that the convenience
in handling and working up cane, paid for
stripping and there are ingredients in the
leaves that injure the syrup the leaves when
left on, accumulate dirt, and H. does not heat
or injure as easily when stripped. Itshould be
cut at second joint from the ground and Sec
ond joint from the top.
Mr. Skinner called attention to the resolu-
ton of the Rockford Convention, in favor of
stripping, tapping and binding
Mr.. Kingman worked stripped and I'M
stripped cane twice and stripped cane made
the most and best syrup both times. He
made 400 gallons of syrup last fall.
Mr.. johnson thought stripping cane always
advisable if it could be done before frost, but
not after. He found cane worthless that he
had stripped sometime before cutting.
Mr.. Skinner was formerly of the opinion
that leaves left on injured the syrup but had
changed his opinion. If the joints could be
left out the syrup would be much better.
Mr.. johnson thought that the leaves left
corn taste in the syrup if green.
Mr.. Gridley thought the leaves the lungs
of the plant, hence the injury by early strip
ping. He had found that cane could be too
ripe it should be cut when the seed is in the
dough he cuts off the tops with corn cut
ter cuts above lst joint; he tested about
where to cut the top off by tasting of upper
stalks the leaves are worth more for fodder
than for syrup.
Mr.. Plumb thought it could be demon
strated that the leaves themselves would pay
for stripping, and would pay in handling
The question is, should the farmer allow the
seed to ripen for the sake of the seed, or cut
off before any saccharine is lost. He would
shock the stalks, like corn, unless it could be
put under cover. When he worked up he
cut the butts off before working, as the ground
had injured them.
Mr.. Seward cut after passing from milk to
dough. Shocking is an erroneous idea
Gases from the ground pass into it, and in
jure it. He would pile ii. Cane is always
moist, and is a medium of communicating the
poisonous gases from the ground.
The Chairman announced the following
Committee on Syrups: Messrs. Clason, of
Dodge, Edwards, Of Walworth, and Haight,
of Dane.
A communication was presented by the
Chairman, and also one by Mr.. Skinner, in
praise Of the new Ho-ang-ho variety, which
were referred to the Committee on Publica-
ton.
Mr.. johnson thought cane would not sour
if kept sheltered and dry, and away from
winds.
Mr.. Skinner thought green cane would sour
easily, but if ripe it would not.
Mr.. Corwin said cane would sour quick
after freezing.
Mr.. Baldwin thought cane should be work
ed Immediately after freezing.
Mr.. Boyce told of case where cane was
frozen and thawed five or six times, and he
had a lot cut up and worked before freezing,
and there was no difference in the syrup; that
NH ah uaG frnunn xuoz Un fnr