The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-05-20
amber Cane, or Sorghum.
Correspondence Chicago Tribune.

Correspondence Chicago Tribune.
The discovery and development O
Amber cane, its hardness on Northern
ATTITUDES, and its proved success as {
sugar-producing cane, have given new
impetus to the cultivation of Sorghum
which bids fair to make it an importan
and permanent farm-crop Throughout
the Northwest. For the purpose of aid
ing the inexperienced, your correspond
ent has been enabled, with the aid O.
w. IL. Colwell, of Pennington, to place
before the readers Of the Tribune thu
following condensed directions, com
piled from the most approved sources
on the culture Of this important product
SEED.-Pure seed should be obtained
from reliable sources, using, say, two to
three pounds to the acre. Seed should
be obtained from different locality
every two or three years, as experience
has shown that it deteriorates by re-
peated replanting in the same locality
SOFIA rich, warm, sandy loan,
with sandy Or gravelly subsoil, Is the
best for cane; but it will grow wherever
corn will. Undertaking benefits this
crop perhaps more than any other. A
very rank black soil produces a large
crop, but inferior sugar. Sour, mucky,
wet soils should be avoided. High
lands are much the safest from early
trosts.
PREPARATION OF THE SoIL.-The
roots of sorghum run very deep: they
have been traced to the depth of four
feet. Therefore pillow deep, subsoil if
possible, thoroughly work, and we'll
pulverize. Manure the year before, or
use wcll-rotted manure in the spring,
but never fresh or raw A crop of
clover turned under the year before is a
capital preparation.
PLANTING.-Plant early, even before
corn. An early start is very important
when the frost comes early, as the plant
grows very slowly at first. Plant half
an inch deep, and in rows three feet
each way, and ten ar twelve seeds in Il
hill. When well started, thin out to
from five to eight good, strong plants.
CULTuRE.-The young plant is tender,
and grows slowly. Care should be TIA
ken lest the weeds get the start. With
the above extra caution the same care
should be taken as with Indian corn.
HYBRIDIzATToN.-T evil should
be carefully avoided. Different kinds
of cane, if planted too near, will hybrid
ize with brOOm-co corn, doura-corn, and
all the millet family; and, in some To-
Qalities, the corn has been badly de.
Perforated for lack of care in this respect,
Some contend that 1t will hybridize
with Indian corn, but othefs doubt it.
1t is said that Siberian cane will not
mix with anything.
Last years crops Of sorghum were
very satisfactory, and perhaps double
the amount will be raised this year.
Three years ago it was seldom seen in
Wisconsin.
There is IA very prolific COW at East
Windsor HILL CT. April 18, 1877, she
gave birth 10 twins, one male and one
female; March 10, 1878, she gave birth
to triplets, two males and one female,
making five calves in eleven months
and three days; July 0, 1879, she gave
birth to twins, both males; October Z,
1880, she gave birth to triplets, two
males and one female, making ten
calves in three years five months and
twenty-one days. The calves have all
been Of good size, healthy and hand
some, and have been raised on the farm.