Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-26
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 2s. 1921
OLD DELAWARE INDUSTRY.

OLD DELAWARE INDUSTRY.
IN it's current issue the Milford
Chronicle makes interesting reference
10 recent activities in An industry that
formerly WAS one of those which
served To make Delaware known TO
the outside world, the manufacture of
sorghum syrup from the sorghum cane
grown by Delaware farmers. Sor-
shum molasscs II was generally
called. and many old residents can re-
call the Joy they experienced in their
younger days In eating hot gridde
cakes. OF even cold bread. literally
spread with this delicious syrup.
According Co the Milford Chronicle,
the business OF manufacturing sor-
Shum syrup from homegrown cane
has come to be an important industry
In some sections OF Kent and Sussex
counties This business during the
Civil War period. II says, supplied the
demand for molas-es in Delaware and
ALSO shipped large quantities TO Phila-
dolphia. whore IL sold for hand
somo profit for the manufacturers.
After the war ended, and the supply
cf molasses from the Southern States
sni from Cuba again got into the
market. the industry dwindled for the
reason that the equipment for grind
ing and boiling the syrup from sor-
shum WAS not on plan OF sufficient
magnitude to handle the business in
competition with the large mills Of
the south. The World War with the
great advance in prices OF all kinds
of syrups and sugars, again made
tn. manufacture of sorghum syrup in
Delaware a profitable enterprise for
tho grower Of the cane. as well as the
grinder and boiler OF the syrup, The
farmer. in addition TO the syrup, gets
the seed from the cane. which is a
valuable feed for poultry and stock
while the cost OF growing the cane
IL very little in proportion to other
crops.
The syrup has sold rapidly at abou,
one dollar per gallon. and many pre-.
Ter u TO sugar cane syrup for making
cakes or boiling FOR candy. A mill fou,
miles north from Milford operated h,
son OF Charles Postles. who is 8
student at the Milford High School
closed down this week after yer,
successful season. The cane in sew
eral instances Was hauled from point
north NJ Dover. Camden and FELTON,
by the growers. who have the syrul
madc on shsrcs. or pay cash sun
for the manufacture and take it all
bat the great part OF the cane worke,
up came from a district Of six or seve,
miles In circumference from this mil
In the town Of Lincoln il located an
other sorghum mill. which has bee
IN operation FOR several years. and
has steady patronage each yea
from farmers who have increase
their acreage TO supply their own an
the demand for syrup from customer
at distance.
The manufacture of sorghum syru
In business which requires expel
knowledge Of the grinding and boilin,
but the machinery and equipment
not very large expense. The gres
increase In the peach growing In
dusus tust after the Civil War perio
probably was the overshadowin
csuse for the decline of the SORGHUM
business 20 a very appreciable exten
and II would be we'll for the farmer
to look into this business as one
their money sources for revenu
There N y market for the syru
which n used and can be used 4
manufacturing of many candies. Z
which the molasses of the south forr
the basis. At present Milford is pro
ably the largest producing section
the sorghum syrup In Delaware.
on the peninsula.
This is not only very interesti
reading. but very encouraging
theee times OF business depressi,
when % many interests are sufrerir
and whom the farming conditions ge
orally are In a decided slump.
points out one way OF making Pre-
out OF q product Of Dclawsr SOIL a
also indicates how consideration a
study may bring forth other spec
products IN our State from VIII
Ru~h prcAt may BE- derived. AZ q