Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-02
The Civilization Of sorrhn

A large number Of the farmers of Mid
die Tennessee kRow the ease witt
which Sorghum can be cultivated
and the value and extent of it
yield Two or three years since an en-
terprising farmer Of Davidson county
manufactured Sorghum syrup which
would compare favorably with golden
syrup, and he also manufactured small
quantity of sugar which was equal in
cslor and taste, to the hest Louisiana
sugar The cultivation of Sorghum may
be made very valuable by the farmers OF
this section IL more attention should be
devoted to this branch of industry.
The New Orleans Picay1ne, which has
been paying some attention 10 this mat
ter, has elected the following letter from
one Of its subscribers
PoNcHToULA, Jan. 27.-In a late mum.
Der Of your paper you solicit information
respecting the culture Of Chinese sugar
cane. ] have manufactured syrup from
sorghum for the last FIVE years, and if youI
space will permit will willingly impart
whatever knowledge / have gained by ex-
perience in its manufacture. .H.
The cultivation of the Chinese cane in
Southern Illinois has been abandoned, the
African having superseded it. The syrup
of the African is far superior TO the Chi
nese-the yield Of syrup about the same.
The Chinese cane is very tall, spindling
cane; the African, on the contrary, is short
aud stocky.
/ DO not grow any cane, but manufac-
ture syrup, charging thirty cents per gal
Ion, or receiving half the product. Farm
ers in my neighborhood generally raise
from quarter Of an acre 10 two acres each.
This they grow not for profit but for use in
their families Very few farmers are salts
fed without their barrel ef syrup, aud
many farmers Use one hundred gallons per
year. The yield per acre is about two
hundred gallons Of very fine syrup far
superior TO plantation molasses.
Nov as 10 culture: Good syrup Canno!
be made from cane grown on rich land.
True, more syrup can be made but il is
very dark aud unpalaiable. The land for
cane should be high and dry; poor, rather
than rich ploWed deeply, and we'll rolled
aud narrowed. The seed should be soaked
ia warm water for twenty-four hours, and
then buried in a bag in the ground until il
sprouts otherwise il Will not terminate
for two OF three weeks.
In Southern Illinois We never plant until
the weather is very warm-say the middle
Of May. The plant is tropical and re-
quires very hot weather for its growth.
g. l. Il N.
out the hills 20 four stalks in each hill A
dry summer season seems TO suit the plant
best, as it never suffers from drought. At
ter Il is grown high enough for the pillow it
is cultivated precisely ike corn. ....
All you have said respecting its nutrtiye
qualities for stock / can verify. Our farm
ers never grow il purposely for stock, on
account of the difficulty Of curing the
young growth but the strippings from the
ripe cane are easily cured, and are care
fully saved, and stock prefer il to the best
timothy hay.
The San Antonio Texas Ledger states
that many Of the Farmers in that section
are planting the Chinese sugar cane the
present year, and adds that arnold eiti-
zen living some twelve miles from San
Antonio planted last year half an acre,
and he made thirty gallons Of molasses
that he sold for one dollar gallon, and
four hundred gallons Of vinegar orwhieh
he got halfa dollar a gallon. He also Sc
cured over ton Of good fodder, and
many bushels of good seed, valuable for
feeding animals. he considers At the
most valuable crop that can be raised
and will plant extensively the present
gear fH