Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-16
Proceedings OF the Milford Agricultural
Society,

Proceedings or tho Milford Agricultural
Society.
SATURDAY, May 4th, 1867.
Organized at 8 o'clock, P. M. President
Yardley in the Chair. Minutes of the last
meeting were read and approved, after max
Ing the following corrections in the printed
report of proceedings -
Where Mr.. Wales spoke of Philips Super
phosphate and Baugh's Rawbone,. 1T should
have read ''the clover raised by the former
was twice as good as the latter" Also, where
the Chairman spoke of shell and stone lime
it should have been ''shell lime is sooner de-
composed and produces its effect earlier, but
stone lime is more lasting" Also, for Han
gandn grass" substitute Hungarian grass
Mr.. Phelps called the attention of the
meeting to the article of "Agricola" in the
Aryus in regard to " Soils" and thought it
would be well to discuss the propositions
therein made, but as Sorghum had been Sc
lected as the subject for the consideration of
the meeting, it was delayed for the present.
Sorghum. = The Chairman though he
could raise it on poorer ground than any
other crop, and preferred pabulette as fer
tilizer.
Mr.. Frazier thought that 1t required good
land.
The Chairman remarked, incidentally, that
he thought the land In Delaware would bear
cropping with corn oftener than any land he
had ever known. He had no doubt that
there were lands in this section that had been
titled in corn one hundred years in success
sion without manure.
Does it pay to raise Sorghum.-The
Chairman stated that he last year planted
five acres in Sorghum, and dressed 1t well
with barnyard manure; planted in hills about
four feet apart, leaving four stalks to the
hill. Applied pabulette to the hills. 1t grew
finely and made nearly 900 gallons of syrup.
The blades were worth about as much as Ii
cost to take them off. The profit to his share
was about 5000 after paying formanufacture,
or about $40 per acre, exclusive Of the seed.
Seed would pay for the cultivation of crop.
Compared Vith Corn. Would have had
about So bushels of corn per acre on same
land, which at present prices would pay
best. Would advise those who raise corn to
ieeu IL W s'ocA 'nS.eau Vi seii'ng MAS IL was
more profitable to keep stock and save the
manure than to sell the grain.
Inc sorghum roo's were .roaoiesome 10
get out Of the land, but thought it would pay
70 naui .nem OH anu compost .hem'
MI Aie4NAir 'nousa' IL gooa pun 10 io'-
~" sorghum WIN eio'ei' anu pas'uie i'i
ono y'a,' turning o'osei ui"ei' F" ~o.iu io'
.ne sorghum ,oo'S "n' ien'e' '''e 'Ahu ''iore
NJ p,oh.rason ..,,.a ,,,,a uon,
mord sorrhrr, az a crow
The cha;rmor thouob, tho nresert derord
would warrant cron hnt did not think i,
90 rood svs,on of fa,n,;no &c ra;s;nr COW,
NJ w.,ss fornd soru,,,n, s,alLs nro,,,,
oood food for boys. He fed some 10 his cat
tie, and although they seemed very fond of
the blades, they did not seem to relish the
stalks. 1t was, however, generally thought
good food for cattle.
Sorghum planted and cut off will bring
several crops of feed. The stalks cut into
short pieces and stepped in water make good
vinegar. Mr.. Barker made good vinegar
from the sap that was left in the vessels over
night and soured.
The Chairman thought that at the present
price of vinegar it was the most profitable
way to manufacture it.
Mr.. Barker had used the vinegar for pickl-
ing and found 1t good.
The Chairman thought it had yet to be
proved by experience whether or not it was
good for picking or preserving purposes.
Mr.. Phelps incurred whether there had of
late been anv ;mproved mac,;nerv intro
duced IN this vicinity for tho nonutacture of
sorghum syrup. The Chairman replied that
none but Cooks evaporator is used, so far as
he knows, which answered tolerably well.
Mr.. Phelps spoke of one called Corcy's Su-
gar Eyaporater. recently introduced in the
North to great advantage. with this nan
or evanorator three persons with a snan Of
horses can make 200 gallons of tborouohlv
clarified syrup In ten hours. which sold at
the North last season at 81. .25 per gallon.
From five to eight pounds of sugar per gal
,op of svrun was made Inv that evanorator
md thirty barrels of cider could he made in
o. lo,, Int, . ,,;,a ;all,, I,,, ,hat ,,aoh;,,o