The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-15
Agricultural.
Sorghum.


Sorghum is rapidly growing In favor
In the West, and this season witnessed
quite large area devoted to it in this
section. 1t possesses several advan-
tages other than yielding sugar, as the
fodder from it keeps better than that
from corn, not drying and crumbling so
30 readily. The seed is very valuable
also, being excellent for poultry as well
as for fattening stock, and the yield on
good soil is very heavy. Although the
agricultural department has been ridic-
uled for its expensive experiments at
making sugar from sorghum, yet 1t fcs-
tered and, encouraged the produc-
tion of sugar with such peristency that
the growing of this plant as a source
from which to procure sugar has been
firmly established in the Northern
States, the final result of which will no (
doubt be our independence of Cuba and |
other tropical countries for our sugar |
supply, not excepting even Louisiana.
During the war the Southern States |
grew large crops of sorghum, from
which syrup was made of an excellent
quality, but the art of crystallizing it
was not known at that time but with
recent discoveries and improved systems
of crushing and evaporating there is no
longer and difficulty in the way. The
Minnesota Amber has been successfully
grown wherever corn can be produced,
and 50 extensive has sorghum growing
become that glucose is destined to be-
come an unimportant competitor.
Unlike corn, in some respects, however,
sorghum is specially adapted to light
sandy soils, stands draught much better,
and can be grown closer and more
compactly. The best results are OBJ
tanned when the crop is put in the ground
early, and for making sugar the stalks
should be cut and worked up the same
day, or within twenty-fors but it is
best to cooperate, and thus save time,
labor and expense in manufacture,
which is the plan adopted in many
places.
Although the production of sugar
from sorghum has been established,
there are many experiments being tried
in different localities-for much is yet
to be discovered that will be of valuable
assistance. During the conversion
of the juice into sugar rapid chemica'
changes take place, and experience is
required in order to be successful; but
sanguine growers and manufacturer
are confident of overcoming all OBJ
stacles in few more seasons, and tht
industry will then be one of the mus
important in the country.
According to the reports of tn,
Agricultural Department, cane suga
in sorghum is associated with one tent
of its weight of grape sugar (glueose)
and not far from one-ffth its weigh
of solids not sugar, such as ash, gum
albumen, wax and few other sub
stances, but the cane sugar varies froT
IA to 16 per cent. of the expressed juice
The product of seed is equal to fror
two to four bushels per ton of cant
About 40 per cent. of the juice is los
in the begasse (refuse), but the sam
proportion is lost in the juice of tn
tropical cane, though it is believed tha
investigation will result in discoverin
method of saving One-half of this los
The begasse is used for making pape
and, treated as a fertilizer, returns
portion of that which was taken frol
the soil. 1t is also used with adval
tage as fuel where that article is scare
Ever the scum and sediment are use
in some manner, no portion of the ca1
being wasted.
AS yet capital and improved mac
cry are necessary in making sugar fro
sorghum, and the methods of manufa
ture differ but individuals can man
facture sirup with but little expens
The difficulty is in crystallizing Il
sugar, for until that takes place the I
suits isonly sirup. Leaving out suga
farmers can easily and cheaply gro
sorghum, either for sirup or foddt
and, withthe yield of seed, will no dou
find it as profitable as any other CT
on the farm.-PhilGdelphia Record