The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-03-03
Sorghum Calture.

manufacturing of sorghum promises
to become of Importance in this Sec
ton, and as many are inexperienced
in the culture and care of this pro-
duct of the soil, we thought it might
be with profit that we consider this
subject and submit few practical
hints on the culture and products of
sugar cane.
Years of experience are required
to fully understand the successful
treatment of this product, and many
have failed in realizing satisfactory
results from their investments in this
branch of business. If a failure is
made, the cause is at once assigned
to the soil, the climate, or some other
supposed hindrance, when the obsta.
Giles rctarding progress lie at their
own door. Failure may be attributed
to a lack of knowledge in success
fully manufacturing this article.
There are many theories relative to
this business. We may theorize a
lifetime, and yet know but little of
the practical part. There arc many
theories which, if followed, would
bring certain failure, therefore it is
highly necessary that we adopt the
true theory and put it into practical
use. All agree upon the most i'm
portant points, yet differ widely upon
minor matters, which, in the aggre-
gate, often amount to more than we
are even led to suppose.
The first important step to he taken
is to secure good seed, pure and Of
the best variety, which, for this lati-
tude, is the Early Amber. Great
care is required in saving seed. Take
heads from stalks of medium height
and free from suckers, using only
the seed that shells from first thresh-
ing. Never shell the seed by strip
ping the head with the hands, as il
takes the outside hull with seed,
which should be taken off. The bes,
way is to whip the heads against the
inside of a barrel. This method
leaves the seed hulless, and it will
sprout much quicker than where the
hull is left on. Sorghum should moi
be planted near broom corn, as il
will mix.
The ground should be plowed i'll
the spring. Many will not agree
with us here, but fifteen years expe'
rience has proven to us that spring
blowing is the best, as it gives the
sorghum ample time to get a good
start before the weeds are up, while
on fall blowing, as soon as the top
of the ground is warm the weeds
will sprout and be ready to put
through the crust long before the
sorghum is planted. The ground
should be plowed six or eight inches
deep, so as to give plenty of loose
soil for the cane to root. The ground
should be narrowed well, and marked
out three feet each way.
Sorghum may be planted in drills,
if plenty of time is taken to cult
vate. 1t should be drilled north and
south, as this gives the rays of the
sun an equal chance to both sides of
the row, while ii planted the other
way the rows on north side OF field
will contain less sweetness than that
on south side; but if planted north
and south there is Little or no differ
ence. The seed should be sprouted
before it is planted. Place the seed
in vessel, and pour over it water
slightly warmed, placing over the
seed i wet cloth and put where it
will get sunlight. As soon as the
sprouts are fairly started the seed is
ready for planting. Plant about two
inches deep and cover with moist
dirt; if ground is wet, one inch deep
is plenty. Put from four to six
seeds in hill; tap the soil lightly
after hill is covered 50 the wind Will
not blow off the dirt and leave the
seed bare. The sorghum is from one
to two weeks earlier where the seed
is sprouted before planting. Bottom
land is the best; level land is better
than rolling. Never plant sorghum
upon MANFRED land, rs the crop
grown on such soil is not worth
making. Potato ground is also
worthless for this crop. These are
facts that farmers should remember
when planting time comes. Sorghum
should be planted as soon as the
ground becomes warm. Last year
many let the planting of sorghum
go until the very last, when it should
he planted as soon as the ground be-
comes sufficiently warm. AS soon
as the sorghum is up from one to two
inches it should be cultivated by
early working. Less labor is re
quired to produce good crop, all
other things being favorable. When
thirty inches high it will take care
of itself.
When ripe it should he stripped
and tops cut off at first joint Of stalk
and bound in bundles. Many think
this is needless work, but we have
found that it saves time and labor ir
loading and unloading. Care must
be taken when cutting the sorghum
not to allow the butts to touch the
ground, as the dirt that will adhere
to the stalks greatly Injuries the syrul
and makes it impossible to clarity
the juice without the aid Of injuriou.
chemicals that are of themselves a,
poison as arsenic and will be con
demned by every honest manu- .ac