The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-01-13
Sorghum Convention.

Agreeably TO published notice a number of
the growers and manufacturers of the Northern
cane met in Bel Air, on Saturday last the sth
of January. In consequence of the incement
weather and bad condition of the roads, the
meeting was not large, yet Baltimore and Har-
ford counties were tolerably well represented
After some interchange of views, the meeting
was organized in the Court House, by calling
Hiram Bail, of Hartford county, to the chair, and
appointing James Bluster, of Baltimore county,
Secretary.
On taking the chair, Mr.. Ball made detailed
statement of the difficulties which he encountered
in introducing the cane. into his neighborhood
and inducing his friends to become growers of
the same, and stated that his success was COM
plete, and that larger crops were planted than he
anticipated.
motion was made and adopted that as a
full attendance Of the growersand manufacturers
was prevented by the unpleasantness of the day.
it would be njudcious to award premiums at
this meeting.
We are informed that excellent samples were
presented by Hiram Ball, Thomas Robinson,
Charles Hollngsworth, John R. Spencer, james
Bruster, J. r. Coats and Adam Horn.
For the purpose of obtaining from the maufac-
turer of the best article on exhibition his process
and plan of operation, committee was appoint
ed by the chair, consisting of Messrs Hanson,
Amos and Bruster, to examine the various SAM
plies and report to the meeting the result of their
deliberations. After short absence the Com
miteee returned, and through its chairman re-
ported to the Convention that they found nearly
all the samples very good and worthy of COM
mendaion; and that they found much difficulty
in discriminating between number of lots, but
after IL careful examination they could not but
regard Sample No. as the best article, and
Sample No. - as the next best of the various
samples which they were called upon to examine;
but four or five o.her samples were very good
and much more than an average of the syrup
made the past season.
The President then declared Sample No. 4, or
the best, to be the property of John r. Spencer,
OF Rock Run, Hartford county, and No. -, or
the second best, 10 belong to James Bruster, of
Reisterstown, Baltimore county, Md.
Discussion as to the best soils for the produc-
ton Of the cane, tie sytem OF cultivation and
mode OF manufacturing the same, was invited by
the Chair Several gentlemen responded to this
invitation, some of whom appeared quite fami-
liar with the subject and from whom much in
formation was gained. The raising of cane is
now expressing much attention in tho country
everywhere, and in TO section more Just now,
than in our own. 1t has been but a short time
since it was introduced into this county-cer-
tainly but little attention was paid to the raising
or manufacture of it. until within the last year
or two Now, however, the people are begin
ming to understand better its importance and
value, and number of mills, some of IA very ex-
ce!ent character, have been put up in the county
within the past year. The planting last spring
was very general, but much of it, perhaps, for
the purpose of experiment, by those who had
never tried it. The season was not a good one.
and much of it, as did every other crop, failed to
come TO that perfection which might have been
expected, if the summer had been ordinarily sea-
sonable. This, however, we think will not at
all intimidate our growers, many of whom, we
believe, Intend putting in larger crops next sea-
son.
AT the close of the meeting, which gave I'M
mistakeahle signs of determination TO press the
enterprise, the President handed to the Secretary
to be read, letter of invitation to the Estate
Sorgho Convention" which meets at Western
Hall, in the city of Baltimore, on Tuesday, the
7th Of February next, at 10 o'clock, A. NJ. The
invitation was accepted and after vote Of
thanks to the officers, the meeting adjourned.