Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-24
Communicated.

Mr. EnlT"R: Having just closed sor
! ghnm making for the year lS77, | an
anxious Ia have a correct account of all
that is made in the parish. Iprescnt thi.
to you for publication, if you think il
worthy Of place in the GUARDIAN. Ihav,
made seven hundred gallons. Some Of il
very fine syrup, and the remainder not SC
good, for reasons which | will state.
ground cane from suckers to as fine As was
reared. Some was cut with the fodder, and
especially the under decaycd fodder was on
the stalk, and during the time there was
some eight or ten days rain. The cane was
brought and laid in heaps. the dead fodder
nodded caused the cane To heat and sour
TO some extent. When this cane was
ground the juice washed this mould oil. 1t
went to the cvaporator. did my best to
make good article Of it, but could not
Those who stripped their cane clean and
managed It wei none went away sorrowfal
They had good syrup and good turnout.
1t the sorghum cane is properly cultivated
and cut at the proper time and nicely
managed till it comes to the miller, the
farmer may expect remuneration for his
labor. All know ut what time to plant.
but there is difference of opinion ~ TO the
time of cutting. have made dligcnt in
qulry about the stage the cane was when
cut and then noted the result, and arrived
ut the conclusion that the time to cnt il is
when the seed on top of the pod i, hard
and the seed on the bottom Of same stalk is
in still dough, and such that was cut nj
that time made the finest syrup and the
largest yield. Some cut their cane and let
1t lie III the field in the sun several DAYS.
Tins Is not proper. one day is all that is
necessary, and lay in heaps. keep IA clear
OF dirt ~ possible. Then haul to the mill:
deposit under shelter oil the ground. So
that the air can pass under it, and it will
keep good i'm that condition long time,
probably for months.
Let me nrgc upon you, brother farmers,
the Importance and value of this crop
Double your sorghum patch for the next
year, and as soon rs it will do to cut give
IL TO your Old poor sows, that are probably
sucked down, and they will get to boo
hooing around soon and bring you another
crop OF fine pigs in compensation for the
sorghum that you gave them. Give it to
your milch cows, and more butter will
come to the table; :. give it to your mules.
and they will laugh when they see Won
coming with it the next time. 1t has some
peculiar qualities in it that it is a good
il purifies blood renovates the
system, and puts all animals in healthy
condition. There arc now many species of
the sorghum cane in cultivation. have
ground and made up several species this
year, among which is the African or red.
top, the Chinese, the Mammoth, the Honey
Comb or the Black Top; and my choice of |
oil the species that have seen is the
African, or rcd-top.
hope that all my brother farmers who |
have mills will make their report to the |
GUARDIAN, giving the amount of gallons
manufactured and their experience in the |
premises generally. Others please do like
"lso. Let us make our little parish paper
IN interesting agricultural paper. Isay in
strip oil the fodder off your
'ane before taking il to the mill and you
Till not regret it.
Yours, respectfully,
JOSEPH HAMMOND.
49,, Lisbon, La.