The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-16
farm aud Garden.
Conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture
sorghum Molasses and Sorghum Sugar

ghum, and we believe from corn stalks
We cannot see that there is any doubt
about this success, unless the analyses Of
Prof Collier, Chemist to the U. S. Agri-
cultural Department, of sorghum, is in
correct, and that can scarcely be, as the
practical tests seem to bear out the ana
lyses else 1000 pounds of sugar per acre
could not have been made from an acre
of sorghum cane. Prof Golfers analyses
proved that sorghum cane, particularly
Early Amber, is equal to sugar cane In
saccharine matter, and experiments prove
that it yields as much per ton, is more
easily cultivated, and can be always
planted after the frosts have ended in
the spring, and be cut before the frosts
in the fall An incidental advantage
much in favor of the sorghum is that the
3 grain it forms is valuable, and will al
most pay for the cultivation. But we de-
sign now to advise farmers to make this
season naolasses from sorghum. They are
not prepared to make sugar yet, but the
machinery for molasses will not cost more
than 300 to $l15, and experiments
prove that 200 gallons of excellent syrup
can be made from an acre, bringing 40 to
so cents per gallon. Two or three per-
sons in neighborhood could unite and
buy the machinery, for after having at
tanned the maximum content of sugar
this condition is maintained for long
time, giving ample period to work up the
crop. And again, varieties might be
planted which mature at different times
or the paintings on adjoining farms might
be made at different times, so as to obvi-
ate any difficulty of several using the
same machinery
In the last report of the U. S. Commits
sioner of Agriculture, preliminary Re-
port for 1880 just issued, Gen. LIE Due
has great many replies from %. States
among them 81 counties in Virginia, from
persons who have been cultivating sor-
ghum, principally for molasses. Very
few were prepared to attempt sugar and
some raised, no doubt, for soiling pur-
poses, as did the writer, who has done so
for some six years The yield of molasses
varied from IL gallons per acre in Ala
bama, to $50 in New York, 426 in Min
nesota, and 490 in Ohio The yield in
very many cases was 200 gallons-and
the small yields We're, no doubt, the re-
suit of bad management. In Virginia,
200 gallons per acre were frequently
raised. The quality generally was said
to be very good, some say equally and
some say superior to the best Louisiana
or New Orleans molasses; the prices rang
ing from 80 to rs cents per gallon One
farmer in Tennessee from 16 to Is acres,
sold $500 gallons at 35 cents, or $2,375,
to New York firm In some instances
40 bushels seed from sorghum were raised
to the acre-said to be worth as much as
oats. The Early Amber generally pre-
ferred. The White Liberian Impehee)
yields probably more grain or seed, which
is larger than the seed of any other va
riety is white, resembling barley, and is
as firm and white as a grain of corn. A
farmer told us that from two heads of
this he had raised three flour barrels of
seed. This variety is nearly as rich as
the Early Amber sugar, and some pre-
Ter it to any other kind for molasses and
sugar. The Honduras raises more cane
per acre than any other variety, almost
double as much as the Early Amber.
The per centage Of sugar is not so great
as in the latter, or in the White Liberian,
but the quantity raised to the acre more
than makes up for this. The only obiec-
ton to the Honduras seems to be It's
1"S0i hdIuIlHS, UuJ our summers are
long enough for its maturity. Some,
however, think the sugar from the Early
Amber is superior to it, or any other
kind. We do not see that our farmers
can act amiss in going into the manufac-
ture this season of the syrup, which can
be preparatory to the manufacture of SUI
gar We hope to get information con-
corning the process, and the kind of ma
chinery best to use, and the price, and
when obtained shall publish it.
We notice, as an indication of the in
terest now existing on this subject, the
following from paper read before re.
cent meeting of the State Board of Ag-
riculture Of Missouri" at taxes nv
utmost efforts to prevent those, who but
yesterday sneered al it, from diving head
long into the production Of crop, they
have not the skill to work up" We NAV
say here, that the syrup of late years a
much improved over that of the period
previous and during the war, by the de-
tiecating process, a preparation of lime be-
ing used If farmers will grow sorghum
and make molasses at first, a general in
terest will be excited in it, its virtues
will be recognised, and the next step will
be the manufacture Of sugar by the for
nation of companies to buy the necessary
mo 81. a