The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-08-12
sorgo-syrup Making.


We present below very able article
on syrup making, from the pen of
Prof. Grace of our parish. This intelli-
gent writer has had practical expert
ence, which he gives, through our pa
per, for the public good, in the manu-
facture of a very superior article of
syrup. The article will be read with
interest by number of our subscrib-
ers, and we believe all can read it with
profit to themselves:
Ever ready to contribute my mite
to subserve public good, | offer
4" brief" of my method of Sorgo-syrup
making. A fuller or more minute
treatise may follow, in time, if desired,
embracing Sorghum and India or rib
bon cane culture with subsequent mani
pulation; but my peculiar order and
precision, might render it out of place
just now.
Interested parties will pardon me
for offering few preliminary sugges-
tions; first,
ON HARVESTING THE STALK.
The seed, hardening and ripening
a red streak appearing in the pith of
the stalk; and bottom blades drying
| commence topping, with a sharp
case knife, below the upper joint,
Except such'choice heads as | wish to
remain for seed, and save by hand
fuls, to be bundled for stock feed.
This operation is followed by strip
ping the blades from that topped, with
a scythe-shaped, oaken tripper, well
seasoned. (Thesc blades, properly
cured and saved served as a good sub
stitute for foddef) After stripping,
the stalks are cut with case knife or
sharp wedding hoe, from 9 inches to
more than 9 from the ground, accord |
ing to circumstances and placed ev-
emily to dry little, if wet; then to be |
collected in small bundles, tied with |
two bands of the wiIted blades, for
gieater ease for hauling and ricketing |
convenient to the crushing mill. This
brnding of the stalks may seem to be
tedious aud useless to some, but lit
tie experience and expertness would
prove it to be great time, temper
and labor saver.
Next, follows the crushing or
" grinding concerning which, | pre-
sumo, to say much would be useless,
SO pass to the
COOKING AND Defeating.
The proper power, machinery and
force being provided and arranged,
the work may commence by obtain
ing for a No. cook evaporation, over
forty gallons of jnice, strained as it
flows from the mill Into this juice
and like subsequent quantities, stir,
half a gill of fresh lime; from which
preparation, keep the supply tub or
vessel, over well supplied,
Before firing up" and heating
the eyaporator, one-third of it may be
covered with the infowing juice, and
the balance covered with clean water
which will cyaporate more or less, as
the juice in, and flowing in, cooks "
and defeeates, and flows toward the
outlet. A movable gate, padded and
handled, may separate the juice and
water and may be moved before the
water to the outlet by unpraeticed
still, if juice should get
mixed with any incorporated water,
it may be caught in a special vessel
and utilized by reboiling.
| may here state that steady brisk
ire is an essential TO success, and
easily obtained from dry heart pine or
ightwood for fuel and as soon as the
,eum rises and forms a dark fixed !
coating, tending to, and over the cool
ng surface of the eyaporator, one or
wo skimmers made of perforated tin, I
hould commence work and be con
inued to remove the scum to barrel t
n trough placed convenient for its
eception.
Now the work is fairly commenced, {
nd with sufficient force, proper ar t
and manipulators, without c
.ccident, may continue all day, or
rom day to day, successfully-the +
uice flowing in and the sirup ont of !
he evaporation in continuous streams.
5ut to this end preparations must
ave been made and care observed to :
ommand, at all times an ample sup !
ly of juice, a constant, steady, brisk :
eat, with proper force and suitable :
Implements and vessels. The mana I"
er, if Impractical, should occasion :
lily test the sirup flowing ont, with a Z
accharometer, (which can be OBJ =
aimed for about one dollar,) and not !
lffer the sirup lat so or so degrees :
, fall under about 40 degrees per !
A little demonstration, with verbal :
might answer better with 4
ew beginners, and save some time, =
Spense and yield but proper atten- i
on to, care and observation of the i
ooye hints and directions will gener- =
ly secure success.
In concluding this article let me I
rye the great importance of great !;
eanliness, with the eyaporator and =
SINNERS, for which there should ever
6 an ample supply of water and wash II
q cloths Accredited as the pioneer !,
ID expert here, | disclaim egotism, e
hile | cbeerfully offer the benefit of Il
;perience in this matter to any friend q
king it. W. W. GRACE. II
I