The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-11-05
For the Register.
SORGHUM CULTURE.

to warrant the general farmer in grow |
Ing II for sugar-making or fodder.
shall endeavor in the present paper TO |
throw some light upon the subject for |
the benefit OF many who are unacquaint- |
ed with the subject in question, In do
ing this 1 shall deal exclusively with
facts and figures having passed the me-
cessity of theory or hypothesis.
Let us turn TO page 275, Agricultural
Record for 1878, and examine the dia-
gram on preceding pages. From this
we shall see that in 1877 we were oblig- |
ed to import 1884, All ,612 lbs of sugar
and 81 $685. gallons of nolasses in
excess of what our own country pro-
duced. This is sufficient only to show
that 1t is desirable to lessen this inpor-
tation by increased home production if
possible.
The seed sent ouqby the Agricultural
Department is known as the Early Am
Der, originating in MINI. 1t is the varie-
ty known as the Chinese sugar cane or
Sorghum" This is considered the
earliest and most hardy variety in cul-
tivation, though not as rich in sugar as
the African. And here lie. me say, that
sorghum" must not be COMPOUNDED
with the sugar-cane ofLouisiana. This
is the same rs grown in the Indias, and
hence called "1ndian." 1t is perennial,
while sorgham is annual. The Indian
propegaied by layers and cutting, while
sorghum is grown from seed. There is
also difference in the sugar and mo-
lasses, though well made sorghum sugar
is superior In some respects to that from
louisiana. The Indian cane cannot be
grown north of Louisiana. The method
of culture of sorghum does not materi-
ally differ from that of corn, except that
it requires earlier wedding, but If well
done, but once. A deeper soil is re-
quired than for corn, for the roots strike
directly downward, often to q great
depth. A compact clay is therefore not
suitable. 1t does not generally require
to be as heavily MANFRED as for corn,
and finally it will grow where corn will
not and bear all treatment far better.
Seed should be planted as early as
danger from frost is over and will GER
inmate more readily If soaked in tepid
water twenty-four to thirty-six hours
before planting. They are very small
and should never be planted over an
inch in depth, while less is better. The
plants resemble grass except that they
have peculiar waxy appearance, and
should be carefully weeded when two
or three iuches high. In cutting one
person passes along the rows, bends the
tops over and cuts off the lunches of
seed. Another follows and with a
downward motion of the hand clips the
stalks of its leaves while third cuts
the canes at the second point from the
ground. The canes shonld be crushed
Immediately after cutting aud if the ex-
pressed juice is allowed to stand ten
hours before boiling it is inevitably
spoiled. The process of boiling, though
not difficult is one requiring great pre-
cision and accuracy, and the least de-
Walton from fixed rules Injuries the flaw.
or of the syrup or sugar. Those having
access the Agricultural Report for 1877
page psi; 1873, page 9S, will find the
process described. For those not hav.
ing these volumes at hand will, in 9
subsequent article, give the process en-
tire.
The best form Of mill for crushing IL
that having three horizontal rollers, the
upper being fourteen inches, and the
two lower, ten inches i'm diameter
These must be geared 10 each other anC
driven by steam or other power. The
motion must be slow and the pressure
applied TO the rolls sufficient to secure
thorough crushing. For ordinary pur
poses they may be made of wood ant
geared to a sweep to be driven by ,
horse. They need not be expensive
and need not cost over twenty dollars
including all. However, it would b,
t'r better for several farmers in one sec
ion, TO c.ub together and erect mil
TO be us in a. common, thus affording
much better i'll and costing each on,
but trifle. For boiling, common
sugar evaporator is the best, and especi
ally if there are two so arranged tina
the upper can be siphoned into the low
or. But little else is required.
And now let us see what it will cos
to produce an acre of sorghum cane an(
its "ield per acre? Under ordinary cul
ture from $50 to 250 gallons of syrup
can be made from an acre of cane. A
yield of 300 gallons is possible by extra
care. Now it is estimated that The to-
tai cost of gallon of molasses need moi
exceed 16 cents. 1t could probably b,
produced for ~ cents, including cult
walton, crushing and reduction. A
yield of 200 gallons then would give
us S32 as cost and estimating value o
molasses at 20 cents per gallon, viii
give us net profit of $10S per acre
The actual profit can easily be increased
rs per cent. The juice of the cane i,
so rich in sugar that IL requires but lit
tie condensing to produce syrup which
will granulate to 8 pounds of sugar
per gallon, in addition to a thick molas.
ses which remains after crystallization
Does sorghum culture pay? l an.
swer, from the light given by careful
investigation during the past year, yes.
1t pays alike the man who makes its
culture specially. erecting buildings
putting in machinery, &C, and the man
who by simple means converts the
product OF from quarter 10 two acres
into molasses and sugar for his own
use and sale. With All average annual
consumption of 81 pounds of sugar and
molasses per capita of population
there is little danger of failure of de-
mand, and until we can produce al
least one-tenth of the total amount OF
sugar consumed i'm this country, we
certainly ere not wise in neglecting TO
increase our home supply by every
| tnCdnb ODtHs II ic CctithhtSo tnht OhC-
fifth the area now planted to corn, de
voted TO sorghum under no more ex.
pense of cultivation, will supply the
demand for imported sugar. Hence
the little that lies in the way of saving
the enormous sum paid for Importation
that are inferior to what with a proper
amount of care3can be produced here.
This article is not written in the en-
thusiasm which usually attends any in
novation, but in the interest of the peo
pie who may wish to avail themselves
of the rich treasures that lie concealed
in tho formerly and long despise d "sor
ghum." One cannot expect to manu-
facture sugar from sorghum or from
anything else without certain amount
of labor, perseverance and care. IL
the class that hope or expect to, l cal
offer no assurance. And while not hav
ing any patent or new process to dis
pose of, and but little seed above tina
required for my own use, will cheer
fully furnish any information in re
gard to manufacture of sugar, or con-