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

Chairman, pro tan., and o. 5. Wiley, O
Dane, elected Secretary
On motion, Messrs. E. w. Skinner, Q
Dane, Thayer, of Waiworth, Davis. of Dane
Seward, of McHenry Co., Illinois, and Clau
son, Of Dodge, were appointed Committe
on permanent organization.
= The Committee reported the following
names for permanent officers of the Conven
ton:
President-DAvm ATWOOD, of Dane Co.
Vice-Presidents-E. Wilcox, of Trempel
eau Co., and III. CoRwIN, of Muscatine, Iowa
s Secretaries-FRANK LELAND, of Walwortl
Co, and j. @. PLUMB, of Dane Co.
Treasurer-W. A. DAVIS, of Dane Co.
The report was adopted, and the officers
entered upon the discharge of their duties.
On motion, Messrs. Wiley of Dane, Hinck
ley of Waukesha, and YOungman of Rockford
we're appointed a committee to report bust
ness for the consideration of the Convention.
During the absence of this Committee, the
Convention was briefly addressed by Hon.
David Williams, President of the State Agri-
cultural Society, and Mr.. Fl. Corwin of Iowa.
The committee on business made the fol-
lowing report, which was adopted:
The business committee would respectfully
report the following order of business:
LIST. Miscellaneous business.
I'd Appointment of committees
Sd. Comm unicatiOns, Sc.
4th. Soils best suited TO the growth and develop
ment OF saccharine matter, and the preparation of
the same
sab. sorts of cane best adapted to the latitude
of the Northwest.
9th culture and treatn, on. wkile growing
Tth. Harvesting, including crushing aud evspo-
rating, With the process Of same.
Sth. Machines, and how operated.
3 n. Cost of manufacturing, the correct proper
tiOn to l. paid TO operators.
10th. Weights of seed per bushel-a standard
18th To memOrialize Congress in relation to the
tax law.
Mr. Williams was called upon for speech,
but said he had very little experience, and
asked Mr.. Skinner for an explanation of the
fine variety of seeds on exhibition.
Mr.. Skinner thought the subject a very
difficult one. He had always recommended
the large Chinese cane. There are some va
rieties of Imphe coming into use that are
very good, but they are late, which IS an OBJ
lection in this latitude where we are so liable
to have early frosts. Chinese cane produces
the most and best syrup-but is not so good
for making sugar as Imphe.
Mr.. Williams asked whether a stimulated
growth did not injure the production. He
had noticed that the small, hard varieties
produced superior syrup, and the large
growth much poorer article.
Mr. COrwin, of Iowa, raised a very fine va
riety on light, sandy soil. He had his cane
frozen by an early frost in 1863 but worked
il up Immediately and il made good syrup.
He thought the sap should only be two or
three inches deep in the pans, 10 work W
nice Have worked up good deal for others
from all kinds of soil. Do not agree with
the opinion that light soils are best for cane.
Have tried the African, but think il has an
unpleasant taste, and is not the thing.
Neither do l like white Imphe, but think
black Imphee is the best of anything we
have in Iowa, and it makes the most uniform
syrup. If we have good cane and good APP
paratus, there is no trouble in making syrup.
Syrup should be made thick TO keep well.
Black Imphee makes thickest syrup, which
keeps the best; the cane stands up better in
the field than any other, is softer and works
I'D better Our soil is black mould with
coarse gravel subsoil. By laying a while in
the sun it will work better. Cut cane before
frost and it will not sour in a long time. 1t
soon sOurs after freezing. Black Imphe Is
sweeter than any other and has better taste,
more like common molasses. 1t yields as
much as any other 1t will soon change
its properties by being mixed with other
varieties, and will easily mix by growing
anywhere near other kinds. 1t seems
to vary in quantity of yield very
much from the time it is planted. Two years
ago produced l27 gallons to the acre on the
hest I had, In boiling, use all the heat can
get. If it is right, a scum will commence to
rise at once. Shallow pans make better
tasting syrup than do deep ones. have
worked it up so green that the seed would
not grow, and made beautiful syrup, and gran
ulated The seed was hardly formed.
Mr. Skinner offered the following resolu-
ton, which was unanimously adopted:
RssoIred, That we invite Prof. Carr to prepare
and present to the Convention chemical analysis
of Sugar Cane what are the best soils for its eul-
tivatiOn, and what are the best fertilizers to De
. used.
The Convention then adjourned till p. II
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On re-assembliHg several communications
were presented and read by the Secretary
One from Mr. Erni, chemist for the Depart
ment of Agriculture, at Washington, enclOs-
ing some fine samples of dyes extracted from
: the the husks of ripe red Sorghum seed, and
B stated that the same is said to be developed
in the stlaks when exposed to the sun and
allowed to undergo fermentation 2L1&c6n-
munication gave the following method OF col
oring cotton, wool and silk;
Roll the seed or husks in vinegar, or in water 10
which is added before heating oil Of vItrol, until
the mixture tests as acid as vinegar. Other acids,
Oh tartaric, oxolic, &c, can De used, ret are
m ore expensive. When the liquid assumes red,
OF rather intense orange color, II rs ready for USE
The articles be eolOred are at once brought into
ithe hot solution, and stirred until the color no
longer increases. They are at once removed and
dipped into a weak solution Of salt Of tin, obtain
al by dissolvipg tin in hydrocloric acid. Then ex-
nose the articles to the air short time, and then
Nashed. Cotton and silk may thus be colored red
white wool turns to beautiful purple, and an al
8 most unlimited variety Of colors and shades may
be obtained by substituting tor salts OF tin or otheI
tinOrdants,' such am0nia, line water or sui
phate of copper, bismuth salt, chTOmate Of psf
ash &c Grey, red, purple, or grange, &c, are
thu. obtained. yellow is produced by adding K
the seed nitric acid sufficiently to form thick
mushy mass. Too much acid will make straw
color The dye turns solid by standing, and MAJ
thus be stored. To dye wool or silk yellow, sole
il dissolved in boiling water, and the goods dip
ped into it, and afterwards washed. Cotton ma
least attraction tor sorghum dyes, while wool re
ceiYes the brightest cOlors.
A communication from J. H. Smith, of Sa
lem. Marion county Illinois, set forth that tn,
. andy soil or oak barrens of that section bear
the best Sorghum. They have no difficult,
in that section in producing a quick, hand
some granulatiOn, and clear, amber syrups 0
fine favor, but they believe that cane vii
.deteriorate, and hybridize, and that can,
may be improved by hybridizing as well a
animals. The writer sent head Of see
which he says has been mixing for six year
with the 0om-see-a-na, Nee-a-Za-na ant
a,,I - eAsII fill