The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-01-19
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.

last meeting, as reported IN the new OrK
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 success
full growing.
A member furnished the following
information in reply: Sorgho, or Chi
nese sugar cane, may be grown upon all
soils upon which fair crop of Indian
corn can be raised, but, of course, GER
tain soils only produce the best re-
suits; from the experience of many
cultivators the choice seems to be land
of medium quality, between black
loan and pure gravel and of moderate
Henry Alcott's plan of soaking the
seed of the sorgho for twenty-four hours
before planting has proved good one.
The seeds deprived Of their hulls will
terminate much sooner than those
planted at the same time but not so
| treated. Alcott's advice is to soak the
seed in tepid water, to which a small
quantity Of saltpetre is added, say in
proportions of one ounce to six gallons
of water. Previous to sowing it is well
to roll the seed in plaster. Do not cover
the seed with more than light cover
ing of earth.
Manure from cattle is better than that
from the stables for sorgho, and the
blowing in of clover and other green
crops is still better. Crushed canes that
have been passed through the mill may
be returned to the land and plowed I'M
der with advantage. Allcott gives pref
erence to the system of cultivating fat
and in drills on fair soils; his preference
is that of many growers. The plants
| being spaced in the rows at a suitable
distance apart are not overcrowded as
| they are in hills, and they therefore have
greater tendency to ripen their seed
| heads. Plant about three and a half
| feet apart, the plants in the row thinned
out to twelve inches apart. The time
required for the cane to gain it's full de-
velopment is about five months, but
this will vary as the soil is suited to its
nature; the season will also affectit In
this respect the planter is subject to the
same chances as is the cultivator of the
ordinary sugar cane.
Sorgho should be gathered when the
seed is completely ripe, that is, when
they show deep chestnut color. A
method of cutting advised by Georgia
planter who has had considerable sue
cess is: To strip the leaves (the fodder
as in corn; then cut off one and half
or two feet of the top 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
the crop. The canes should be allowed
to lie but a short time before being
worked up; hence it is advisable to begin
by cutting and crushing the canes which
ripen before the majority of the crop,
each day cutting off only SO much as
can be disposed of conveniently. When
the crop is large enough to admit of
several sets of hands, the Georgia plan
ter advises that one set shall strip the
leaves and another cut off the seed tops,
while the third cuts the cane.
If planted in the middle of May, which
is considered favorable time for plant
ing to secure fine growth, the plant will
ripen about the middle of September.
Sorgho is sometimes planted as early as
the middle of April with good results,
and successive paintings made until
about the middle of July. The last
mentioned date is the latest according
to this member, in which planting may
be done with any certainty of ripening
the stalks in ATTITUDES corresponding
with, say, Raleigh, N. c.; Nashville,
Tenn, and Fayetteville, Ark,
A Cheap Corn Barn.-A good build
ing for the storage of our corn crop, as
husked, is necessary adjunct to good
farming, because by its means we can
save our crop in perfect order, and
realize high prices. In building one,
however, it is advisable to consult
| economy of cost, while at the same time
securing the maximum of advantages.
We propose to describe such a one as
we have built, and which has answered
its purpose most admirably.
Firss set two lines of posts in the
ground, forming parallelogram 6x24
feet. The posts to be three feet above
the ground, and extending as far below.
On the posts invert a milk pan, and Sc
cure in place by shingle nail or take
strips of galvanized iron, cut in circle
and nail on the sides of the posts, so as
to form projection sufficient to pre-
vent the ascent of mice or other vermin.
On these post rest two sticks of timber
6x8 inches square, and on these as frame
works rest the floor joists which are six
feet long, and 2x6 inches of area. These
floor joists should be arranged three feet
apart, and nailed securely to this sup
port. From the outer edge of every
other joist, erect the scantling for the
sides-4x4 for the corners, and 8x4 for
the others. These uprights should be
ten feet long. Between these mortise
two rails, to receive the Boarding. also
3x4. On the top nail stringer, and
connect the two sides at every other
post, to insure against spreading. On
the top erect V roof, using 2x4 inch
rafters, open boarding and shingles.
The boarding should be 3-inch wide
strips, with half inch spaces. In the
center, run up three joists and open slat
each side, 80 as to form a chimney, and
thus give ample ventilation.
Such building will require ten posts
for its foundation, about 800 feet of
lumber, and 1000 shingles. As it's di-
mentions are 6x24x10, it will contain
], AS cubic feet, or about / 200 bushels.
The total cost should not exceed, for
materials, fifty dollars. Yet this sum
may be lessened considerably in many
localities, according to the price of lum-
Der. Such a building has BEEN COM
pletely finished in Massachusetts for less
than sixty dollars for materials and
labor.
The animal intorest on tb;s hr;ld;r~