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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. 103