The Tupelo journal., 1906-08-17

response from the northern end of the
State where, sorghum is the principal
cane planted. The appended letter is
of especial interest as it treats OF the
care of sorghum, which, when properly
handled, is an excellent table syrup.
While it would not bring so much on
the market as syrup made from ribbon
cane, there is every reason to believe
that if it was put up in cans the grower
could find a market at profitable prices
for his product. Georgia cane is sold
all over Mississippi, and it is a COM
pound made from practically the same
cane grown in North Mississippi. If
our people would put theirs up while
hot and without processing, it would
undoubtedly sell for a profitable price.
If there are those who wish to try it,
special attention will be given the mat
ter by the department and a market
found for it. Mr.. j. Renner Brown of
Coffeeville writes as follows:
"Seeing your request in the Grenada
Sentinel for information relative to the
making and keeping of molasses, will
give my experience. To make good,
clear syrup with q pleasant flavor, free
from trash, small specks and without
the strong taste so common to sorghum
molasses, it is necessary that a great
deal of Swimming and straining be done
lin fact, the more the better), and that
the syrup be cooked steadily and at an
even temperature.
81 have tried many plans for keeping
nolasses and find that the smaller the
vessel the syrup is placed in the better
and fresher it will keep. l now have
molasses in quart bottles that is n
year old and looks and tastes like new
molasses. This syrup was bottled while
hot, direct from the evaporation. Hot
molasses will not break glass bottles if
they are dry, but they will break if
there is any water left in them. also
use jugs, all sizes from one gallon up,
but prefer n gallon jugs. [ do not
use sealing wax to seal my jugs and
bottles. [ simply use corn cobs, enough
molasses ~clinging to the necks OF the
Jugs and bottles to exclude the air.
II have been using a heavy one-horse
mill and an eight foot evaporation for
the past two years and have made two
or three hundred gallons of syrup per
year, but this year will make a great
deal more and will increase my facili-
ties for making, or at least for making
better syrup.
81 have found a ready sale for my
molasses in the two nearby towns at a
good price-in fact, l could not supply
the demand"
The Oxford Eagle still remembers a
condition that is to be sought after
again. A good old time that should
not be forgotten:
"With meat selling at the present
price the int bellum ~smokehouse, fill
ed, as it generally was, to Overlooking
with home-cured middlings, shoulders,
hams, and adorned with strings of sau-
sage and jars of homemade lard, would
have peer a fortune to the possessor.
Those homely Injuries under the old
regime, were used entirely for home
consumption, and were but a small part
of the Southern planters s~elf-sustain-
ing resources. Men who bought their
staple supplies in those days were
greatly in the minority, and were con-
sidered on the road to bankruptcy,
which wac generally the u~nvarnished
truth"
A return to these good old days
would be a welcome change for our
people, and they will do it, too. Inter-
est in such matters is on the increase
and our people will finally produce the
bulk of everything used at home on
their farms.
The tendency in the State is to do
things better than in olden days. While
this is true along all lines, it is especial
ly so with reference to the construction
of bridges. Sunhower county is just
at present actively engaged in bridging
her streams with splendid steel bridges
in place of the ordinary wooden struc-
lures in use in the past. Near the town
of Indianola two of the best steel
bridges obtainable have just been COM
pleted and the contract for a steel
draw bridge across Sunfower river has
been let. The people r fast learning
that the best is the most economical in
the long run. With the building of
better bridges will come the construc-
ton of better roads. and to follow this
will be better vehicles, better stock,
and more pleasure and profit in living.
Let the good work go on without hin
drance or abatement.
Yazoo City business men in a mass
meeting held recently decided to hold a
special trade week during October.
The event will be largely advertised
and the merchants will offer special in
ducements in the way of prices during
the period. Amusements for visitors
will be furnished, and it is confidently
expected that the event will prove both
pleasant and profitable. Other towns
might take notice and profit by the ex-
ample set.
Mississippi stone quarried at West
Point is being used to pave the streets
of Baton Rouge, and the excellence OF
the material is the subject of a great
deal of favorable comment. Mississippi
is blessed with immense quantities OF