The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-09
farnl aud Gardem.
conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture.
New Industries.

In THIS lSSue-the second was partially
discussed in our last, and of the latter we
propose to speak of in our next. Unless
the estimates we have seen, and which we
present, are very wide of the mark, these
industries will be decidedly more profit
able than any crops now grown in Vir-
ginia. This we think applies particular
ly to sorghum molasses and sugar. We
advocate first undertaking the molasses
manufacture, and gradually going into
sugar manufacture, as the people become
acquainted with the industry and inter
ested enough to form companies to pur-
chase and work the machinery for sugar
We may say here, that recent reports
prove that 200 gallons of sorghum mo-
lasses may be made to the acre, which
sells for, from 35 to. rs cents per gallon,
as to quality.
We present the following from Captain
R. E. Lee on the subject of Jute:
RoMANNooKE, VA, Feb l. 1881,
Thomas Pollard Commissioner Of Agriculture:
Dear Sir,-Yours of the Oath ult. enduring
as to my experience in the cultivation OF lutte,
is duly received In reply / will give you in
detail my very small experience in the matter.
About the middle of last June 1 planted, 1
suppose about one half pint of seed, given me
by Mr.. Elphinstone The land, since measured.
contains $50 square fee.-from 70 square feet
100 pounds of the stalk was cut l think about
the middle of September it was lust Towering.
and from to 10 feet high If my calculations
are correct, the yield was % tons per acre. The
stalk was weighed the day it was cut No seed
ever produced. Stalks were left for the
purpose and are standing now. planted one
month too late, far as | can Judge from what
l have heard and read on the subject. The
land on which the Jute was planted is a light
sandy loan, perfectly drained, being on slight
ridge. The seed was drilled like spinach or
any early garden vegetable, by hand in drills
one inch deep and ten inches apart. 1t came
up thickly in two days, and in a week after
wards l thinned it out to about one inch apart
and hoed it lightly with garden hoe. l never
touched 1t after that until l cut it, 1t grew
from to 10 feet high, and, as 1 have stated,
yielded at the rate of 2S tons per acre-say 20
tons.
L understand the manufacturers propose paw
ing $3 per ton for it as it is cut from the field.
The producer delivering 1t at some central
point, or if'he will make enough their machines
will be brought right in the field.
intend to try about 20 acres of it this spring,
commencing to plant some as early as the
ground and weather will admit, and so along up
to LIST of June. Some in drills, some broadcast,
and some with distance enough between drills
to be worked by horse plough
What have given you is my actual expe-
rience. l would add that the land is in nv or
chard, and has not been MANFRED for three
years, and has had two crops on it since No
weed of any kind grew after the first working.
Very respectfully, etc., r. E. LEE.
We may add that the seed planted was
the India jute furnished by the Agricul-
tural Department in Washington. We
have recently had conversation with
Mr.. Elphinstene on the subject of Jute,
and will give the substance of some of
the information obtained from him. He
thinks jute will produce very well sown
broadcast, 8 to 10 pounds to the acre, but
better In drills and cultivated. He also
says it will come well on tolerably good
high land, but does better on rich bottom
lands. He has presented to my Cabinet
some beautiful specimens of Ramie and
Mallow, the latter indigenous For
Ramie he will pay SIS per ton in the
green state. He will erect machinery
for separating the fibre without rotting,
and for this he expects to get Is cents per
pound. This machinery he thinks will
not cost more than $3.50. The India
jute being used by Mr.. McCance in Rich
mond, does not cost more than 5 cents
per pound. This has been rotted, and is
much inferior to that obtained without
rotting-though we think Mr.. McCance
uses the butts, which is cheaper thar
the long fibre. Mr.. Elphinstone state:
that the land on which Capt Lee grew
the Jute was ordinary high land of rather
light character. We suggested to Mr.. E
that the India jute was probably not ac-
climated, and on that account or from
too short summers possibly might not
mature the seed. He replied that he
did not know, but if it did not the seed
could be procured annually from Thor
burn and other seedsmen of the North
Mr.. Elphinstone has considerable num-
Der OF seed for distribution, obtained by
MIN from tie United States Department
Report of the United States Commits.
sioner of Agriculture.
In our last we were COMMENTING on
the contagious diseases of animals. For
pleuro-pneumonia treatment is scarcely
attempted. IF the animals are not killed
they should be strictly quarantined, put
IN comfortable quarters, well supplied
with fresh water, and suitable food. Re.
Presslve measures adopted by some Of the
States, particularly New York, N. JERSEY
and Pennsylvania, have been to a great
degree successful-only few infected