The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-04-14
Sorghum.
DIRECTIONS FOR ITS CULTIVATION
VALUABLE PAPER.

The following instructions for
the cultivation of sorghum have
been furnished US by Messrs Lewis
Wilhelm 4 johnson, of this city,
and will be of great interest to
persons who contemplate the cul-
tivation of sorghum this year
There is no longer any doubt of
the fact that sugar can be made
successfully and proftably by the
new process, and we advise farm
ers to give the following careful
perusal.
When we assert that a superior
article of syrup and a fair article
of sugar can be made from sor-
ghum canes we know that we
have all kinds of prejudices and
objections to meet. We can only
meet these objections and over
come these prejudices by the as
sistauce of farmers who are will
ing to give sorghum a fair trial
To do this they must begin by
procuring and planting pure seed.
This need not be urged upon those
who have planted pure seed and
made gallon Of syrup to four or
five gallons Of green juice, while
it takes from seven to ten gallons
of juice Of hybredized canes to
make one gallon of very ordinary
syrup. There is no other remedy
for this falling off than the plant
ing pure, we'll manured seed. In
order TO procure good seed the
cane must be carefully cultivated
for the seed alone, and not for the
syrup, by allowing the seed to
mature and dry on the stalk in
the field.
A year ago we paid as high as
sixty-fve cents per pound for seed
to distribute gratuitously to far
mers. Last summer we had the seed
cultivated by careful farmers. We
are prepared to fill orders for pure
seed at cost price. We do this.
hoping to remove the prejudiceS
and make the cultivation Of sor
cham a success.
In planting, we advise farmers
10 avoid, as much as possible,
black, mucky soils ; if planted up
on bottom lands at all, it should
be dry, sandy soil. Very rich
soil of any kind is not favorable
to the production of light syrups.
Good land, not fonl with weeds,
should be planted in drills. As
much Of the cane should be al
lowed to stand as the ground will
bear. Of this farmers must judge
for themselves. A large over
grown stalk is not the best for
syrup or sugar, but the medium
or even small stalks are better
than the large, rank cane often
seen of rich soil IF the soil is
not good or is foul the seed should
be planted in hills.
Sorghum while growing requires
very close attention until it is
well started, and then it will leave
weeds and everything else in the
background. The seed should be
prepared first by cleaning and
then by pouring warm water over
it until covered two three inches
in the vessel. If we'll stirred the
light chaffy seeds will rise 10 the
surface, which should be removed.
The vessel should then be set in a
warm place until the hull Of the
seed shows a disposition to burst,
then the seed should be spread
out until nearly dry, and in this
condition should be placed in the
ground. If tlis plan is strictly
observed every seed will grow
If planted in drills one seed in a
hill is sufficient. If planted in
hills two to FIVE seed are all that
is needed.
The ground should be we'll pul,
verized. The best way is to throw
two burrows together and plant
the seed on the ridge. 1t should
be covered as lightly as possible
and the cane will appear in a few
days. 1t will require careful nurs:
ing for short time, but it, will
soon become strong and will over
come all obstacles. 1t should not
be ''thinned" too much. Let as
much grow as the ground will
support.
The best varieties Of cane fol
syrup are the old fashioned Chi
| nese, or black top, and red top, OF
Liberian cane. The most success
full for producing sugar, so far as
vet demonstrated, is the Oomce
anna, or black lmphee, or African
variety.
These few hints will suffice fol-
the present, but before the cutting
season we will publish pamph'
let containing minute directions
for harvesting the cane and man
ufacturing the syrup, so that where
there is sugar naturally we may
have the benefit Of it. We viii
also give directions how to make
the skimmings and waste protta