The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-05-30
Sorghum, CuIture.

The ground should be prepared as for
corn, but in narrowing the filth should be
as fine as possible and the surface either
rolled or planked smooth, to facilitate
working while the plants are Young since,
until elephants attain some age they grow
slowly and are weak The best success
Is obtained with the seed drilled at inter
walls of two or three inches, and covered
not more than half an inch the rows to
be of the same width as for corn.
If considered advisable to plow both
WAYS, the hills NAV be the same distance
apart as for corn, dropping ten or twelve
seeds in hill, and subsequently, thinning
10 four or five canes. When planted in
drills the canes may be thnned with the
hoe to a distance OF ten or twelve inches.
For first class syrup, sandy Ian! or
sandy loan Is best, in fact very rich, fat
land never gives good syrup, either in
color or flavor.
As soon a. the plants are up, the field
should be narrowed with ii light harrow
which will stride the rows. so as not to
impair the plants. This cultivation may
be continued until the plants will bear
little earth. After this corn cultiyator
may be- used 1t is Objectionable to hill
much. If weeds appear in the hill or
drill they must be eradicIted at whatever
cost.
Neither sorghum or imphee should be
planted until the soil is warm, or until
coru will terminate promptly. Many other
wise good cultivators tail, not only in
planting too early, but specially in neglect
ing early cultivation. The plants always
grow slowly first, hence the need OF per-
fectly clean culture, and frequent work
ings to keep the soil from becoming hard
and crusting. The thinning should not be
delayed after the plants are four inches
high. Exposure is otthe firstcCnsequence.
1t should be a southern one it possible
if this cannot be given, situation should
be selected, where the sun may have
full power during the whole day. \
Northern exposure Is the worst of all.
Many persons donotlemove the suckers.
This is a mistake. The quality of the
syrup is always better whore the suckers
are removed though on rich land where
| the canes are thickiy planted the suckers
often do not develop enough to do serious
damage They prevent Il full develop
ment Of the man stalks, however, and
are comparatively worthless for syrup,
| since they seldom are matGred al cutting
! time, and the labor spent separating the
suckers in harvesting is an onerous job
that seldom pays.
The cutting includes stripping the
| blades, by striking them Upward, down
the cane yith stout lath. This, little
experience will enable the operator to do
| deity. Next the canes are to be topped
| by taking eff the urripe portion of the
cutting from two to three feet, according
TO circumstances. Neither the stripping
or topping, however, should be done un-
Ill the canes are ready to be cut ut the
roots, since. when cut, further elaboration
Of the sap is prevented. when cut at
the roots, the canes should be neatly PILED
in moderate armfuIs and Immediately
caI.ied to the mill, where they should be
set on end, preferably under cover, and
loosely enough so as 10 a3.4It a tolerabIy
free circulation of air, and where they
may be kept as cool as possible. Prepare
tions should be made 50 that grinding
and boiling can 60 on simultaneously,
and the reduction of sap into syrup
should not be intermitted night or day,
until the whole crop is worked up
Prairie Farmer.