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OHIO STATE SOISGO ASSOCIATION.
Editors Southern Cultivator: —This body held its
6th annual session at Mansfield, Ohio, on the Gth and Vth
ult. While the attendance was not quite as large as usu
al, the meeting was exceedingly interesting. The exhibi
tion of syrups and sugars was fine —especially the sugar,
which was of excellent crystal and beautiful color.
Wm. Clough, Editor of the Sorgo Journal, of Cincin
nati, was chosen chairman, and A. 11. Wren, Secretary.
The following topics were discussed :
Ist. Seed, Preparation of the Soil, Planting and Culti
vation.
2. Harvesting and Handling.
3. Introduction of Machinery and Designs for Manu
facturing Sugar and Syrup.
On the question of Seed, it was generally admitted that
the regular Sorgo was most productive, and the syrup of
mildest flavor, but on account of its tendency to blow
down and lodge, the Liberian was preferable; because,
while yielding well and affording a pleasant syrup, it was
a strong grower, and stood the w inds better than any other
variety.
The Oom-see a-na, by some miscalled Otaiieitan, is
the best sugar-producing plant—not that it yields any bet
ter or any more sugar than the Liberian or Sorgo, but it
crystalizes most readily. One gentleman said, that in a
few hours alter he had manufactured his syrup, it had so
thoroughly crystalized, that a cat running over it would
make no impression upon it. He worked up his cane up
on the Cook Evaporator, which he claimed was all the de
fecator needed. He had formerly used lime, but had
abandoned it.
In cultivating cane, all advised planting the rows so as
give the cane the full benefit of the sun—usually north
and south, -as cane fields should have a sunny exposure.
It should be covered very shallow on lidges, and in culti
vating, it is preferable to throw the earth towards the
hills, rather than cultivate level, as many have recom
mended. The soil should be fine, and of a sandy or grav
elly nature, for producing the pleasantest syrup. It should
not be cultivated after it is ten inches high, except to
keep down weeds by plowing. It is best to work it up
when the seed is in the dough state, and it is remarkable
that the best success in making sugar lias been with un
ripe cane. The cane should not be allowed to stand an
hour beyond the ripening period, but should be cut up
and sheltered from sun and rain, either by shocking, or
placing it under a shed. Freezing cane after it is cut
does no harm. It is the thawing afterwards and souring,
which does the mischief. Cane frozen in the hill may as
well be left there.
Upon the subject of Machinery and Manufacture, the
discussion took a wide range. All agreed that shallow
boiling was Lest, and all but sundry inventors, believed
the Cook Evaporator the most scientific and perfect ever
presented to the Sorgo world.
The leading feature of the Convention, however, was
the exhibition by Mr. Clough of his “ deodorizing and
refining process.” This is doubtless the most important
discovery made in the refining of syrup and sugar during
the past 25 years. By the use of a very cheap and en
tirely innocent substance, he causes absolutely an entire
deposite of all the impurities in the syrup—even such
SOUT HE UN CU LTIV A TOR.
matters ns have heretofore been held in suspension, after
subjection to the most improved clarifying processes.
By menus of his gas stove and appliances, Mr. Clough
experimented upon the syrups on exhibition, some of
which had been clarified by the use of lime and other
agents, and greatly surprised the exhibitors by the enor
mous amount of matter precipitated bv his re-agent.
A visit to the Evaporator and Agricultural implement
Manufactory of Blyiner, Day & Cos., was the general wind
ing up of the Convention. Those works are the largest
and handsomest in Northern Ohio, ami they are now pre
pared to turn out all kinds of Sugar Machinery, and Ma
chinist's Tools and Agricultural implements, Ac., Ac.
To this firm, and the energy with which it Ims pushed
its sugar machinery, is due the high estin ation in which
Sorgo culture is held in the North-west. It had entirely
“fizzled out” in 1857, but they encouraged another trial,
by much talking through the papers, and by making
handsome syrups upon every State and county Fairground,
until fanners “ took heart again,” and now “Sorghum”
is an established institution. VIATOR.
It has been our good fortune, to see and taste the sor
ghum syrups prepared by this house, which in transpa
rency, purity of the saccharine flavor, surpassed every
thing of the kind we had ever met. After this cotton ma
nia is over, sorghum will again become a staple crop,
wherever sugar cane cannot bo grown profitably.—En.
So. Cult.
COUX AND FODDEH.
nr DAVID DICKSON, ESQ.
Editors Southern Cultivator: —Let me say a few
words on pulling fodder. Make the corn for the sake of
the corn, and if the work is properly done, with deep pre
paration, liberal manuring, and the ground is kept clean,
by shaving the grass off with the sweep, the corn will be
wade and hard , while the fodder is still good ai>d green.
Then the fodder may he pulled oft' without hurting the
corn in the least. Fodder may be kept green on the stalk,
two or three weeks after the corn is hard, by using suit
and plaster, around the hill as a manure. There is uo
better food for stock than fodder well saved.
Very respectfully.
N. B. If you wish, i will give you some reasons why
Ammonia is more valuable to crops than Phosphates, and
that it will not exhaust the land, when used right.
Thank you—please do.—Ed. So. Cult.
PEHLVZAN GUANO IX CONTACT WITH
SEEOS.
Editors Southern Cultivator. —l was surprised to
see from an inquiry in your March No., that the long ex
ploded notion had been revived, that it is unsafe to apply
unmixed Peruvian Guano in immediate contact with seeds
Let me say, that our wheat growers who use the drill, have
been in the constant practice for many years of putting in
Guano and seed by the same operation, and that I have
practiced rolling seed in the best Guano, as much as
would adhere to it when moistened, without the least
fear of harm. There is no risk at all in the use of any
ordinary quantity applied, in direct contact with the seed.
One of the chief advantages'll'this Guano, is, in my opin
ion, the vigor and impetus it gkves to plants in the eailiest
stages of growth. '
Very respectfully vours,
N. B. WORTHINGTON,
Ed. of American Farmer, Baltimore Md.
Thank you. You have settled a point which our lack
of experience iu this section left still in doubt.— Ed. So,
Cult.
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