The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-11
SORGHUM,
Some Of Its characteristics and
"TriCkS "---ItS Future

III 1HE ~ DtcH ucdIly sWO
months since you wrote me note and asked
me to "say something about sorghum to your
readers. But since that time have been over
large part of this great country trying to learn
something about sorghum" and have not had
time to even answer your letter Now, for the
first time, here in sight of the Golden Gate,
which looks out across that great sea which
lies between us and the land from which sor-
ghum came, have an hour to give to you.
A few years ago l thought 1 knew great
deal about sorghum, and / would have fur
nished you an article off-band which would
have contained great deal more information
than can give you now in a day. But when
we get to be men find that we know infinitely
less than when we were boys How satisfac-
tory life would be to US if we could only
retain that exhaustless fund of information we
have when we first leave college! Sorghum
has now been cultivated in this country for 80
years, and still we are not acquainted with its
"tricks and it's manners" To illustrate this
will give two illustrations: Last year the sor-
ghum juices analyzed by the Department of
Agriculture contained barely 8 per cent. of
crystallizable sugar. This year they had IA
per cent. There was little difference in the
soil on which the two crops were grown. The
methods of culture were the same in both in
stances. The seasons were much alike in tenn
perature and rainfall. Yet the two crops were
entirely unlike in character. Sorghum Is the
see it, and now you don't" 1t is as coy as a
Madagascar maiden, and does not yield its
sweets to every wOoer.
From the time of its introduction sorghum has
been grown for sirup This sirup has now come
to be quite an article of commerce, and this
year many millions Of gallons of it have been
made. Some of this is of most excellent quail
ity-ft for the table of Prince. Some of it
is sorry stuff and unfit for the table of peas
ant. Much of it has been sold at go 40, and
so cents gallon Much Of it has been sold for 10
cents Much of it has not yet been sold at ALL
In fact, the sorghum sirup trade has felt most
seriously that depression which the sugar in
dustry of the whole world has suffered. Those
who have made sorghum sirup in the good old
way with horse mill and little evaporator
have made money, or at least expenses. On
the other hand, those who have gone into the
business extensively have either lost money or
had hard scuffle to make both ends meet.
As to the matter of sugar making not much
can be said. Sugar is made now from sorghum
in several localities on large SCALE The chief
factories are at Rio Grande, n. j.; Champaign,
ILL.,; Hutchinson and Sterling, Kan and Frank
lin, Tenn. / have not seen the balance sheets
Of these companies for the campaign which
has just closed. but l fear, owing to the ex-
tremely low price of sugar, that they have
had hard time of it.
Sorghum has been grown, too, and with sue
sown broadcast, and 1 have been told of one
instance where it produced 81 tons of green
hay per acre.
When the seeds of sorghum ripen they are
most excellent food for poulty, aud when boiled,
for cattle and hogs. At Rio Grande, N. j.,
several hundred hogs have been fattened on
sorghum seed alone. Any of your readers who
may care to study the sorghum industry more
in detail, can have copy of Bulletin No. 3,
Bureau of Chemistry u S. Department of Ag-
riculture. 1t will cost each of them one cent
to get this report-the price of the postalcard
on which they write to the Commissioner of
Agriculture and ask for it,
"THE FUTURE OF SORGHUM
Many of your readers may think take q
gloomy view Of the sorghum industry by the
statements above. But this is far from being
the case. believe the sorghum cane will con-
tinue to grow in Importance each succeeding
| year. Vastly increasing quantities of it will
be used every year for sirup-making. 1t is
| creeping onto the arid deserts in the Rocky
| Mountain basin, for it will grow in climates
| too dry for Indian corn. 1t is destined to play
| an important role in the drama of the cattle
! ranches of tho West. Its seed will be no mean
| part of tho cereal production Of the future.
| And most sincerely hope that in many parts
of the country sugar may be proftably made
from it.
Much injury has been done the sorghum in
dustry by its over jealous friends. Its gospel
has some venerable preachers, who play Rum,
Romanism, and rebellion" with it. But even
misguided enthusiasts have their uses, and
may often do good when they seem to be doing
| only evil. Sorghum "has come to stay" and
| will neither be whcedled by the fulsOme fiat
terry of its friends nor disheartened by the
open opposition of its enemies If we can only y
tide over the present season of depression we
may look for brighter days in the near future.
At any rate sorghum is no longer an epithet of
scorn, and the inhabitants of one Of the great
States of our Union will be known to future
generations as sorghum laPpers"
III. w. WILEY.
SAN FRANCIsCo, Nov. -, 1884.