The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-28
Department of Agriculture Elk
pert Tells of Value of Ray
enous Feeding Of Canes to
Farm.
APPLIED TO PIEDMONT
REGION OF VIRGINIA.
Sorghum Recognized as For
age Crop in Diversified
Farming Campaign-Meth-
DDS of Clarifying Juice and
Producing Syrup.
by G.. Il. NeSom.
u. =. Department of Agriculture

u. :. Department of Agriculture.
Sorghum Ia now so widely produced
as a forage crop in connection with
diversified farming as to require but
little commentator. However. the
yrup-producing varieties might he
more extensively planted with a view
to using them In part for syrup max
ing, especially In the sections where
sorghum syrup is preferred for table
use. This will apply to large part
of North Alabama. the hill sections OF
Tennessee, North Georgia, the Pied
mont regions Of North and South Car
DINA. Virginia. and Kentucky. Gin
cinnati Is quite a center for the sale
OF surghum syrup. and dsome other
cities. like Chicago. frequently take II
In lots up to 100, 900 gallons.
Louisiana sugar cane can be grown
TO advantage only In n strip along the
Gulf Coast, varying in width up to
100 miles or more. II Is not grown to
any considerable extent in Louisiana
a bove the mouth of Red River, though
planted In a small way for syrup
making as far north as Shreveport
This crop is better suited 10 bottom
and heavy clay lands having high
lighter lands when rainfall is abnnd'
ant during the late summer. Cairo sr
southwest Georgia ia probably the
great est sugar cane center in the
lighter types OF soil, though IL Is be
ing grown to a greater extent ever!
year In coast sections of Mississippi
Alabama, all over Florida, and alonl
the Atlantic Coast in Georgia ant
South Carolina.
In those regions where II grows
well. cane Is worthy of careful con
sideration rs a crop to be grown In Q
small way In a rotation both for syr'
up making and for stock feeding Il
has been thoroughly tired out in Lou
isiana and other States for making sill
age, and has proven very satisfactor.
when cut fine and literally waterec
while being put into the silo. The
most economical use of II Is TO grint
tho body of the stalks for syrup. anc
cut off liberal portion of the imma
Iture upper end Of the stalks with the
tops, which should be hauled while
green and before frost to the silo
where they can be cut and put up fol
silaEe tust as corn, with the additions
requirement. OF a reasonable appiica
'tion of water.
Water and Fertilizer Required.
All these types OF cane make ths
best yields when grown on land where
the water supply Is abundant, though
the land must he well drained. Nearly
every farm has some piece of heav,
bottom or clay land where ribbon cane
can be grown to good advantage
though II should not he replanted OF
the same land years in succession
unless heavily MANFRED. When sugar
cane is grown near enough the coas
so that the stubble can be left the
second year II should be literally fer
tilted. Plenty of vegetable matter
will tend to hold moisture longer ir
times of drouth. All Of the canes ars
ravenuous feeders. and as the yield o.
syrup and forage are the determining
factors In growing them they should
always be made to produce at least
a reasonable tonnage. They will grow
we'll on new land. or follow heavy
crop of weeds and grass 10 good adj
vantage.
Marketing the Syrup.
All arrangements should be made
for handling the syrup before the crol
is planted, as otherwise serious losses
may result. 1t is said that the syruI
consumed I'm the South from Texas t.
the Atlantic Coast south of Tennessee
and North Carolina Is worth about
81. D0a,00 per annum, and in former
years a large part OF this was pure
cane syrup. made by grinding the cane
grown on small farms with horse
power mills and evaporating 1t IL
open. direct fired pans; bat for tbs
last several years IL large part of TIM
syrup so made has gone to the larger
canning factories where IL has beer
blended and mixed with corn syrup
refners' syrup and moiasses, and ha:
been freely sold in grocery stores K
the same farmers who produced H.
Each man who makes syrup on hi:
farm has a standard of making differ
ent from his neighbor, and II takes
but little observation 10 show thai
even the same man makes different
article each day. When these irregu-
lar lots OF syrup are packed in cans
and put on the market. the buyer Ii
never sure of getting two alike. and
this is the greatest difficulty In the
way of canning syrup on the farm fol
the wholesale grocery trade. This
however, does not seriously initiate
against the canning of syrup for home
use and fet focal sale where the
maker has or can establish u reputa.
tion for a good grade. But in order
to hold the trade once gained, he must
rigidly follow the methods which have
given him the best product, and rejeci
for canning purposes any that 1t no
up To standard in body. color ano
favor. The three qualities that together
determine the valne of syrup.
How to Make Good Syrup.
In order to- secure a high-grade
and uniform quality of syrup. the
maker must follow certain rules from
the planting OF the cane 10 the seEiing
of the syrup. Select land well suited
to the growth - the ersis. prepare, /.
well. give II early and thorough Guilt
walton until the cane shades the land.
frsn~Itvx.~A -. an<,1rs.A pnnA 4 II