The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-10-31
Sorghum Culture

The Farmers Club of the American
Institute at their last meeting, as report
cd I'm the New York World, took up the
SORGHUM topic. A Tennessee farmer
asked advice as to the best seed, most
suitable land time to plant, distance
apart in the drill, and all the other
points necessary to successful growing.
A member furnished the following In-
formttiou in reply: Sorgho, or Chinese
sugar cane, may be grown upon all soils
upon which fair crop of Indian corn
can be raised but, Of course, certain soils
only produce the best results; from the
experience Of many cultlvators the
choice seems to be land of medium quail
fv. between a black loan and pure gray
el and Of a moderate richness.
Henry Olcotfs plan of soaking the
seed Of the sorgho for twenty four hours
before planting has been proved good
one. The seeds deprived Of the hulls
viii terminate much sooner than those
planted at the same time but not so treat
Ell. Alcotts, advice is to soak the seed
In tepid water, to which a small quaint
ty of Of saltpetre is added, say in proper
tons of one ounce to six gallons of water
Previous to soaking it is we'll to roll the
seed in plaster. DO not cover the seed
with more than light covering OF
earth.
Manure from cattle is better than that
from the stable for sorgho, and the plow-
ing of clover and other green crops is
still better. Crushed canes that have
been passed through the mill may be re-
turned to the land end ploughed under
with advantage Alcott gives prefer
ence to the system of cultivating fiat
and in drills on fair soils; his prefer
euce Is that of many successful growers.
The plants being spaced in the rows at a
suitable distance apart are not over
crowded as they are in hills, and they
therefore have greater tendency to rlpen
their seedheads. Plant about three and
a half feet apart, the plants in the row
Trimmed out to twelve inches apart. The
time required for the cane to gain It's full
development Is about five months, but
this will vary as the soil is suited to It's
nature; the season viii also effect 1t. In
this respect the planter is subject to the
same chances as Is the cultlvator OF the
ordinary sugar caue.
Sorgho should be gathered when the
seed is completely ripe, that is, when
they show a deep chestnut color. A
method OF cutting advised by a Georgia
planter who had had considerable success
is To strip The leaves (the fodder) as in
corn; then cut off one and a half or two
feet of the stalk with the seed; then cut
the cane at the ground and throw it into
piles. from whence it is hauled to the
press. The mill and boilers should be
in readiness to crush and boil before be-
ginning the harvest of the crop. The
canes should be allowed to lie but a
short time before being workedup hence
it is advisable to begin by cutting and
crushing the canes which ripeu before
the majority of the crop, each day cut
ting off only so much as can be disposed
of conveniently. When the crop is large
enough to admit of several sets of hands
she Georgia planter advises that one set
shall strip the leaves and another cut off
The seed tops, while a third set cuts the
cane
If planted the middle of May, which is
considered favorable time for planting
10 secure fine growth, the plant will RI
pen about the middle of September. Scr
gho is sometimes planted as early as the
middle of April with good results, and
successive paintings made until about
the middle of July.