The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-06

quality, mafkellHE Suiiuiti"uE'
Thus far the supply has fallen far
short of the market demand.
The United States department OF ag-
riculture has prepared brief summary
Of information regarding the growing
Of sorghum, and the equipment neces-
sary to make syrup. A copy of this
circular NAV be had by addressing the
department of agriculture, Washing
ton, ID. C. Those desiring more detailed
information in regard to the subject
should ask the department for Farm
ers Bulletin AT, Sorghum Syrup Man
ufacture.
Sweet Sorghum a Productive Source
of Syrup.
The sorghum plant is similar IN APP
pearance to corn, growing about the
same height and possessing about the
same color, 1t may be grown through,
out the United States in practically all
regions where corn is grown, though
parts OF the extreme northern tier OF
states have a growing season usualiy
too short for sweet sorghum to ma
ture. In growing sorghum for syrup,
care should be taken TO secure seeds oil
sweet sorghum variety, and, tor
planting in the North one which ma
lures quickly.
Sweet sorghum is grown from seed
and is planted in rows about three and
one-half feet apart. The plants should
stand from four TO six inches apart
in the row Approximately from iiye
to eight pounds of seed is needed TO
the acre. Ordinarily planting time falls
soon after corn planting, when the soil
has become thoroughly warm. The
stalks of the plants are ready for syrup
making when the seeds which form
heads at the top OF the stalk are ~
the late dough stage; that is, just be-
fore they become dry and hard.
The machinery necessary for making
svrup consists of mill for extracting
the Juice from the cane and an evap-
orator for reducing the juice to syrup.
The mill contains three iron rollers,
between which the sorghum stalks are
passed TO press out the juice. II may
be operated by gasoline engine or BY
sweep drawn by horses.
The usual type of evaporation con,
sists of a rectangular, iiat'hottomed
pan of galvanized iron or copper. Evap-
Grafton may be produced by direct con
tact with fire or with steam. In the
former case the pan is mounted on
speeially constructed fire box. II steam
evaporation is employed, the pan Is
provided with steam coils which lie on
the bottom of the pan. in some cases
a double bottomed pan i used, the
space so provided being employed to
carry the steam.
Other Equipment Needed.
Other articles needed are barrels or
tubs for catching the juice, pipes for
conducting il to the pan, skimmers for
removing the scum, apparatus for test
ING the syrup's consistency and barrels
or cans for holding the finished product.
In making a syrup the blades OF the
plants are stripped off, the sorghum
cut at about six inches from the
ground. the seed heads removed. The
sorghum is passed through the mill
with az little delay as possible. When
the weather is cool or there Is danger
of frost, the sorghum may be cut con
siderablv in advance OF pressing, for
when properly piled IL will keep for
several davs. The juice extracted by
the mill is strained and then run into
the evaporating pan. As il passes
through the pan. it quickly comes TO a
boiling point, and scum rises 70 the
surface. This should be constantly and
carefully removed.
Syrup should be evaporated to a
noint where il contains not less than
20 per cent solids; that is, has weight
of not less than ll4 pounds TO the
/ gallon. II placed in containers while
boiling hot and properly sealed, 1t viii
keep indefinitely.
The departments publication de
scribes in detail the methods of man
ufaeture. including the clariheation Of
the Juice. IL such j. desired, and the
utilization Of by-products. The latter
include the blades Of the plsnts,which
make excellent feed for cattle, the ha-
gasse 1.-THE stalk from which the juice
has been removed. the scum, which
NAV be fed to hogs in small quantities.
| and seed heads which also have a
/ feeding value.
The average Weld Of syrup an acre
j. from - Ia POO gallons, although IN
some cases il has been as high a. 400
| Gallons. The estimates on the yield Of
seed an acre vary from Coz TO 1900
pounds.