Year: 1865

the point upon this subject. Sorghum
is essentially perennial plant. It would
reproduce itself from the roots like other
grasses it not killed by frost. The infer
ence then is that the excess of sugar
after furnishing the materials for stalk
and seed tends to return to the roots,
there to constitute capital stock for an
other growth. Ifthis be true the period
OF greatest saccharine wealth must be at
the time the seed is forming and before
the counter march of forces sets in. The
notion that fully ripe cane ouIy produces
crystallisable sugar is not we'll supported.
1t is natural to infer this, but the facts
do not support the theory. Sugar is
made from both ripe and partially ripe
cane, as often from the latter as the for
mer, and oftener, we think, from that
which is slightly under than that which
is over ripe. We think cane should be
cut when the majority of the seeds have
acquired a maturity corresponding with
that OF wheat when it is considered ripe
enough to cut.


STRIPPING CANE.


In this matter operators will be gov.
erncd by circumstances. 1t is better to
strip the cane and bind it up in nice,
convenient bundles, but it is not best to
take the time for this, if you must there.
by delay or prolong the time of harvest
ing unduly, incurring the risk of a freeze,
or It the work Of blowing and planting
fall wheat must be neglected or if other
interests more important must be sacri-
feed. Cane may be worked without
stripping, but the blades should be dry
and not mildewed. 1t is more cumber.
some to handle, the operation of grind
ing is much slower, the leaves take up
considerable juice, and with horse. power
mills the drawbacks are suff fcient to rem
der this mode wholly unadvisable. The
blades may be stripped of while the cane
is standing, but 10 this case the cane
should be cut as fast as stripped, or with.
out more than ono days delay. 1t may
be cut without stripping and put imme.
diately, while the leaves are green, into
moderate sized shocks like corn. This is
10 some respects good plan. The
blades are better preserved and are worth
something for fodder. When the cane
is hauled to the mill the blades 90 along
at the same time, and may be stripped
of in convenient place for removal to
| the barn or shed. The labor of stripping
when the leaves are cured-we do not
say dried, on the stalks is considerable
They are tough, and it requires an actual
pull to disengage them. When quite
green and tender, or when dry and brit
tie, the blades may be rubbed off 10
various ways, some Of them very expedi.
.tious. If the stalks are piled on the cart
or wagon, with the smaller ends sticking
out all one way, they may be pulled out
of the load two or three stalks at time,
leaving most of the blades behind. Some
recommend setting up board with sew
eral augur holes of different sizes bored
through at convenient hight, and en-
ploying one small boy to insert the small
ends Of the cane into the holes, and an
other on the opposite side to jerk them
through.


One convenient mode of cutting off the
seed heads is to whack them off with the
knife at the time the cane is cut, and
before the handful of stalks, which has
been cut, is laid down or put into the
shock. Another is, when the cane is
laid down in little buuches on the
ground with some regularity, to chop
them off on the ground. This is very
conveniently done if little care is en-
ployed in laying down the stalks, aud it
does tolerabIy we'll any way. 1t leaves
the seed heads less scattered, which is
an object if they are to be collected, and
If they are allowed to 90 to waste, or if il
is proposed to turn stock in to eat the
We hope neither of these plans will b.
charged upon US.


CURING CANE.


We published a communication from
Prof Thompson, of Indiana, in the July
number, upon this subject The expert
ments described, and others of which W.
have heard, indicate that curing process.
Of about two weeks is an advantage not
only in concentrating the juice and re
ducing the quantity to be evsporated BY
fire, but also in improving the quality o
the sirup. A brief period Of drying fixes
the chloraphyl, or green vegetable matter
which exists in the epidermis and shell
Of the cane, also in the sheath which sur
rounds the stalk, and prevents this often
sive substance from being expressed ou
with the juice.


STORING CANE.


If cane is to be kept for convenience
longer than the time appropriated TO
curing, it will keep without injury il
shocks in the field, if put up SO that tn
rains can not penetrate, or if the leave
are cured it may, when quite dry, be pu
into large stacks and covered with stra,
to protect it from rains and suns. Shed
are most secure, but they should be ope
at the sides. There is more danger 0
heating, with cane that has been strip
ped, than with that which is put u
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