Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-02-05
AGRICULTURAL.
sorghum-Growing in Kansas,


Roser, Coffee County, says:
have raised different varieties Of
sorghum or Northern cane, and manu-
featured a good deal of it into molasses,
making from 500 to 2,4OO gallons in n
season, doing a good deal of custom
work. | generally succeed in making a
good article of molasses, that will not
only keep well any length of time, but
which will improve by age, and sell in
the home market at an average price Of
IS cents per gallon. never made any
attempt at making sugar, not having
any centrifugal or other apparatus nee
essary to separate the sugar from the
nolasses. My molasses graduates
freely, and I am satisfied that with
proper appliances and proper treatment,
sugar can be made from our Northern
cane. To make sugar in paying guam
titles 1t will be necessary to put up good
machinery and all necessary fixtures and
appliances to handle it properly.
The majority of the farmers herea-
bouts look at the subject favorably as a
means of supplying their families with a
good and wholesome sirup, and raise
enough for their own use. More farm
ers would raise it if we had more good
and well arranged factories to work it
up and make a good article of strip
close at home. The manufacture of sor-
ghum mOlasses as business here is not
very fattering, the market being limited
to small quantities.
The cultivation of sorghum is very
simple and easy, being the same as that
of corn. But in the selection of soil,
all black and rich bottom land must be
carefully avoided, as sorghum raised on
such land invariably makes black and
strong molasses. Any naturally dry or
well drained upland will do. The
ground should be as free from grass and
weed seeds as possible, and put in good
order by blowing and narrowing until it
is fine and mellow. Lay off slightly
with three OF four row marker-such
as we use here in the West for corn.
Three and half feet each way are
about the proper distance for hills, or,
if drills are preferred (Which will prob
ably yield more per acre), three and a
half feet is the proper distance for the
drills. In planting the seed, cover very
lightly. The after culture consists in
keeping the ground well stirred and
free from weeds until the cane is well
headed out. In harvesting the cane for
molasses, I commence as soon as the
greater portion of the seed has passed
into the dough state. l then strip, cut
and work up as speedily as possible.
For sugar it should be fully ripe. In
boiling / have never used any neutral
izing re-agent, but am satisfied such
might be used to good advantage. Two
things are indispensable fast boiling
and good skimming. The juice should
never go down after it once begins to
boil up, but should be kept boiling until
it is ready to come off. Swimming
should be carefully done whenever and
wherever scum appears.
". j. Brown, Butler County, writes
as follows:
The growing of sorghum in Kansas
has become an industry from necessity.
There are many farmers here who can
grow every year, without interfering
with other farm matters, enough sorghum
to supply their families with all the
strip needed, without any other expense
than their labor, as there are mills that
make up the cane either for one-half or
for 16 cents per gallon of sirup As yet
there has not been much sugar made,
as to do SO successfully requires special
apparatus. There are many instances
here where the sirup has made sugar in
the pan without the aid of any chemicals
or extra labor, and all engaged in the
manufacture of sirupsthink there is not
the least doubt that sugar can be profit
ably made in Kansas from sorghum, if
the right means are used in reducing
the juice. Who will tell us what it isp
The question that first suggests itself
is: What kind of soil is best adapted
to the growth of the plant? My expe-
rience says that any soil that will grow
good corn, wheat or oats, will grow
good sorghum. When should it be
plantedP The same time as corn. Here
in Kansas we plant from April 1st to
May 10th; but prefer to
plant from April 18th to goth, as
then the cane has long season to ma
ture. The preparation of the soil should
be the same as for a good corn crop. We
pillow deep and harrow well and roll. No
manure is used on the crop here while
growing; it causes rust on and above
the first joint. The mode of culture is |
optional with the grower; but the best
results have been obtained by planting
in drills 8 IL feet apart and 10 inches in
the drill. We find that it can be handled
to much better advantage in drills than
in hills when stripping time comes.
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