The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-20
The Northern Sugar.C Cane.

, nau nany year s experience in |
the making of sugar and syrup, both in
the South and in Illinois, the writer of
this article proposes to give the readers
OF the Times the facts and figures which
nave resulted from this experience.
which will interest every one who has
suffered from the poor returns of ordi
nary crops, and is, consequently desir-
Gus to increase his income, or, at least.
to lessen one of his principal items of
expense.
All the sorghum, broom-corn and mil
let plants readily hybridize, and at once
lose their distinctive qualities if grown
near each other. By judicious care the
better qualities of the sweet varieties
have been developed, and we have the
result In several improved sugar canes-
the most noted of which is Minnesota
amber. This variety has been extern
sively grown in the Northwestern States
with, in most instances, satisfactory, and
IN some cases, extraordinary results.
FROM fifty to as much as four hundred
gallons of syrup per acre has been the
return in quantity, and where at all well
handled the quality was very superior to
glucose-with which our grocers supply
US with gold or silver drips-as light is
to darkness.
In favorable seasons this variety gran.
ulates very readily, with proper treat
ment, and it is claimed that two thou
sand pounds of choice yellow sugar have
been secured from one acre. But, ordi-
narlly, the graduating property is not
present In sufficient quantity to Justify
the increased expense necessary to make
sugar, and in some seasons, when the
cane does not ripen well, as in 1880,
but little sugar can be made.
1t is not probable that the full extent
OF the improvement of the sorghum as
sugar-producing plant has yet been
reached; on the contrary it is more than
probable that its superior qualities will
be developed until the production of
sugar will be as certain and common in
the Western States as the production of
flour now is. The very great advantage
that will accrue to the agricultural inter-
ests OF the country, should such result
occur, can scarcely be estimated.
All are agreed that sandy loan soil,
on high rolling land, is the best for sor-
ghum. If "good heart" as the saying
is, that is, if capable of growing good
crop of corn, no better land need be de-
sired. If the ground is low it must be
drained, as, indeed, land for all crops
should be. Sorghum will also very fire.
quently do we'll on sandy knoll that
could not be relied on to carry through
a crop of corn. On clay land the guam
tity of yield is less, and the quality of the
sirup often inferior to that on sandy
land. Freshly-manured land is also
uufit for this crop, as it stimulates
large growth at the expense of its sac
charine property. Many instances are
recorded of such cases, where the cane
attained a very large size and expecta-
tions of a great crop of sirup were in
dulged in, only to end in disappoint-
ment, after long and expensive use of
fuel-of small quantity of dark, inferior
strip.
Sorghum seed should be carefully Sc
lected and kept dry during the winter.
About two pounds are required per acre,
usually less rather than more. 1t can be
planted rather earlier than corn, but re-
quires care in covering, as, if planted
too deep or too shallow, the stand will be
poor. For this reason it is difficult, if
not impossible, to get q good stand if
planted with common corn-planter.
The ground should be we'll plowed, in
the fall or early spring, and again
freshened" or stirred with turning
pillow, just before planting, in order to
destroy every weed just starting into
life. This is very important, and greatly
facilitates the after cultivation of the
crop. The harrow having leveled off
the ground, a light marker, making
marks three and half to three feet
nine inches wide, should lay off the land
in checks, by crossing the first marks.
Drop the seed by hand at each intersec-
ton, from six to twelve seeds in each
hill, and cover with the foot about half
an inch, or later in the season, one inch
deep. If rain is expected, or the
ground is sufficiently moist to sprout the
seed, do not step on the hill. On the
contrary, if dry time occurs, the seed
will be more apt to terminate if the
ground is compact about them.
To facilitate termination many per-
sons soak the seed in warm water. and
keep damp until they swell little.
This is an excellent plan, but must be
managed with care, or drouth of a few
days will destroy the young germs be-
fore the can obtain sufficient root.
AS soon as the plants are discernible
in the rows the corn-plows should be
started, with the shields on, so as to run
close. A pair of scrapers in lieu OF the
front shovels will be found great ad-
vantage, lessening the hoeing to be done,
which Is the main work in raising crop
of cane. After cross-plowing in the
same manner, there will be very little
work left to be done with the hoe, and
If the work previous to planting was
properly done, the hills will be compar-
atively clean, and the young cane will
start off very rapidly. AS soon as pos
sible, the hoes should be used to destroy
any weeds or grass in the hills, and the
crop be put to a stand of six or seven
plants in hill. If less than this num-
Der, the cane will sucker good deal-if
more, the cane will not attain its aver
age size and sweetness. II this first
working is properly performed, and in
good time, the crop may be considered
safe. 1t will hardly get so weedy as to
require second hoeing, unless the
ground had previously become, by neg