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36 THE SOUTHERN WORLD, DECEMBER 1, 1882. Norglium Sugar. A committee of the National Academy of Science has made a report upon the “scien tific and ecunomic relations of the sorghum sugar industry,” which appears elsewhere. The committee find as a result of their in vestigation that the analyses made in the department of agriculture not only confirm the fact of the presence of sugar in the juices of 8orgham and maize in notable quantity, but they.also establish the fact that the sor ghum yields in its juice, when taken at the proper stage, about as much cane sugar ns the best sugar cane of tropical regions. The committee also establishes the fact that the cane (sorghum), when sugar iB the object, should be free from suckers and immature stalks, should be cut when the seed nre ripe and should be worked up immediately. The prevailing opinion has been that the cut stulks might be stored away for weeks after cutting without any resulting lossordetri ment, and it was even contended that such delay and “seasoning” of the cane would give better results. It was further found that the idea that has prevailed that the ef fect of rain would be manifest in the diluted juice, and that conversely a prolonged drought would result in concentration and dimunition of the juico is utterly unfounded in fact, and incorrect. The chief difficulty in the way of crystalizing the sugar from sorghum and maize is the presence of n pe culiar gummy substance which is formed during the process of manufacture. The committee express confidence in the commer cial success of the sorghum sugar industry nnd recommend still further investigation into the effect of fertilizers on the growth of sorglium and maize, variety of soil best adapted to the production of sugar in those plants, the methods of defecation, and the use of lime or some other alkaline agent. We fail to see anything of value in the deductions of the committee that was not before either known or within easy discov ery of the practical sorghum sugar grower. It has been generally agreed for years past that sorghum cane contains a large percen tage of cane sugar,but no method has yet been devised by which the sugar can be cheaply nnd certainly rendered. The difficulty of crystalizing the sugar owing to the pres ence of gummy substances has all the time been the chief and insurmountable obstacle in the way of success, and the committee do no more than recommend “further investi gation." This is very well, and we are hope ful that some cheap nnd certain process of manufacture that will overcome this diffi culty may soon be discovered. In regard to maize sugar the report is not so encouraging, since it does not endorse the enthusiastic views of the late Commissioner of Agriculture, Gen. Le Due, who, if we re member correctly claimed that crystalized sugar from cornstalks could be produced at a cost of VA cents per pound, nnd that the corn-stalk juice yielded an average of over ten per cent of its weight in crystalized sugar. We are hopeful of the sorghum sugar prospect but have little faith in ordinary maize in competition with sorghum, tropi cal cane and sugar beets. B. Reduce The Cost of Labor. As “there are more ways of killing a dog than joking hint to death on butter," so there am other ways of reducing the cost of labor than simply to reduco the daily or monthly wages paid. Indeed wo think that low priced labor is rarely cheap labor in the true sense. As a rulo, in any community where wages are low—compared to the actual cost of living—production is either stinted in amount or unprofitable in flnnl results. The wages paid to labor must necessarily be limited by the net results to the employer, and this consideration controls the price paid, even more than the absolute efficiency of the labor. There are thousands of the better class of Negro laborers now working in our cotton fields for eight to ten dollars per moftth and rations—in all about twelve to fourteen dollars—whose labor, the same in amount and skill, would command twice as much in New York or Massachusetts. Why is this? Decause the system of farming' that has heretofore prevailed in the South has not been sufficiently remunerative to enable the farmer to pay higher wages. In fact, he has been paying relatively higher wages—higher in proportion to net results— than are regularly paid in tho North, where ordinary field laborers, no better than our best, receive twice or thrice as much. The common complaint throughout the 8outh is of the inefficiency, of Negrojabor; but it is well to consider if the farmer is not more to blame for the unprofitable results of labor than the laborer himself. The object of every thinking farmer should be to produce the greatest results in proportion to the cost of operating. Now on the ordinary cotton farm, the cost of labor, low at it it, is the chief item of expense in making a crop, and, it may seem strange to say, it is less under our absolute control than any other item. AVe must pay sufficient wages to support the laborer, whether his labor is efficient or not, or discharge him. But if we connot make him work better we can at least make his work more effective by providing good plows nnd hoes nnd other farm implement, by high manuring and skillful management on our pnrt. In doing this we nre simply reducing the cost of labor by taking such measures or adopting such a system as are under our control, and which will enhance the value of the results of labor. The element of labor is thereby rendered less prominent as kn item in the expense account. AVe invest more in improved methods, mow in fertil izers, more in live stock, more in improved implements, and allow the investment in labor to remain the same. This is one se cret of Mr. Furman’s success and is an im portant factor in solving the problem of how to render labor efficient. It requires about as much lnbor to prepare and cultivate an acre that will yield only one fourth of a bale of cotton as it will to do tho same work with the addition of enough manure to increase the yield to one bale per ncre. It will re quire some lnbor, of course, to distribute the manure, but this will be small compared to tho result, and will be more than compen sated by the increased yield. The invest ment in good manures, especially composts, is the best investment that a farmer makes; it generally yields from twenty-five to one hundred percenton cost of manure, includ ing all labor and cost of materials. It is, then, tho policy of the farmer to increase his amount of the investments that yield the greatest profits, just as the merchant en deavors to increase the sales of such goods as give the best returns. Just in proportion as he does this his business prospersand he will grow rich. This will inevitably lead him to what is known as high farming or the “in tensive system.” Indeed this U high farm ing- B promptly. As fast as cut out each piece should be thoroughly rubbed with salt and spread on shelves or boards until early next morning when they should be packed as closely and in as large a bulk as possible fill ing all the vacant spaces with salt. Saltpe tre is not indispensable, but a teaspoonful to each joint gives the lean parts a fine col or and greater firmness besides assisting to preserve the meat. AVe would advise its use by applying it to the flesh side near the bone of each “joint." ncKi.ED romc. AVe have often wondered why farmers in the extreme South do not practice the plan of keeping pork in pickle for summer use. AVitli ordinary precaution there is no diffi culty in preserving it sound and sweet for any reasonable length oftime. By adopting this method large hogs, even, may be butch ered in March, if not fat before that time. Pickled pork is fully equal, and many think it superior to, the best bacon. It is espec tally adapted for boiling with vegetables. A tight barrel aud plenty of good salt are all the accessories that are absolutely necessary, provided—the pork is on hand ; for like the recipe for cooking a rabbit you must first “catch the rabbit," and we fear many of our readers are without the hog. It is also a good time to put down a few barrels of corned beef in order next summer to vary the monotony of a daily diet of west ern bacon. B. Intensive Farming. Farm Work for December. “hog killing.” This month brings no special duties for the attention of tho farmer, if we except the butchering of hogs. In the sunny South probably more hogs are killed in January than in any winter month, for the reason that our hogs are usually not “fat enough to kill” in December. But this ought not so to be. Although January is usually a colder month than December, it does not follow that pork killed during the former month will be more likely to keep well. On the contrary, the experience of those who have tried both is in favor of the earlier killing, becauso the weather is not apt to be too cold for the salt to “strike well” and the pork can be hung up and thoroughly dried before tho skipper fly makes its appearance in the spring. Fat hogs killed in December make cheapor pork than when killed a month later, because a given quantity of corn or other feed will produce more flesh and fat if fed during mild weather. Hogs ought to be fat by the first of December; and it is poor economy to continue to feed them from the corn-crib after they are fat enough for good I “““"‘f 1 ™ lwu ua,eso1 cotton- pork and the weather is cold and otherwise ° nly AVe do not propose to write an essay under this trite caption, but having just finished a careful second reading of the capital address of Mr. F. C. Furman, (which we had heard delivered at Marietta,) we wish to present a few thoughts that have been thereby sug gested. Mr. Furman claims to have made a success in intensive farming, to the extent at least of demonstrating that by high ma nuring our ordinnry worn uplands can be brought up to the capacity of one and a half bales of cotton per acre. AVise and reliable gentlemen have visited liis farm since the address was delivered, and they testify that the actual yield of Mr. Furman’s farm when all is gathered, will probably equal if it does not exceed his August estimates. So far, so good. No proof was needed to con vince the Intelligent, reading farmer that such results were attainable—on small areas at least; but most farmers have been slow to believe that the system of high farming could be so rapidly extended to so large an area even,as 65 or 85 acres. This much, then, has been accomplished: Mr. Furman hn£ verified his own expectations and proved to the incredulous and doubting mind that a bale of cotton, and even more, may be pro duced from each of sixty-five acres of worn- out land. This result has been reached, too, in only five years. Let us tabulate the an nual showings of the sixty-five acres: 1st year no manure 8 bales 2d “ 500 lbs compost per acre.... 12 3d “ 1,000 “ “ “ 23 4th “ 2,000 “ “ “ 47 5th “ 4,000 “ “ “ say 80 Considering the quantity and quality of the compost used the annual increase in the yield of cotton does not appear remarkable. During the four years in which tho compost was applied, the aggregate amount applied to each acre was 7,600 pounds. In the same four years the aggregate increased yield of each acre over the natural production of the unassisted soil was just two bales of cotton— are not generally understood. Hogs intended for killing should fast for from twelve to twenty-four hours preceding the fatal mo ment The water should be heated to a temperature of from 150 to 170 degrees Fah- land would have produced without the ma nure. This result does not strike us as re markable, certainly not incredible, in the light we have endeavored to present it. i , „ .. . . — Each pound of lint cotton has reauired 7W 8 ^ stetn M ** “ een recommended and j e * . . 1 I iAIKrht fnp vaavo In UaU J « the amount applied. When a small amount of fertilizer or manure is applied the grow ing crop appropriates nearly all of it; and the larger the application the greater will be the proportion left in the soil. This is just the principle upon which Mr. Furman’s re sults are based and upon which rests all sub stantial soil improvement. In his essay he well puts it thus: “Ascertain carefully and accurately what elements, organic and inorganic, it requires to make a given crop, and in wbat propor tion of each, then make your manure for that crop so that it will return to the soil what the crop takes, in the proportions in which each element is taken, being careful to return each time a little more than the crop takes away. Now thisis not difficult to do, and doing this is intemive farming.’’ We would amend the above dictum a little. Al though it is perfectly practicable to ascertain from reliable tables of analyses “what ele ments, organic and inorganic, it requires to make a crop, and in what proportion of each," it is not practicable for every farmer to mako a compost that •“ will return to the soil what the crop takes in the proportion in which oach element is taken.” Nor is it necessary to be very accurate even were it possible. A farmer may safely rely on re turning to the soil tho nnimal manures re sulting from feeding the crops grown on the soil and the cotton seed and other similar products, with the addition of phosphoric acid. He may, if he desires, institute a sys tem of tentative manuring with the view to ascertain what elements and in what pro portions give the best results when applied to the soil. This method is comparatively slow, but is sure; and far superior to chemi cal analysis of the soil in determining what is needed by the latter. This leads us to consider the merits of Mr. Furman's formula, as it is now called. In this we find nothing new—it being substan tially the same formulaas that recommended and published by the Commissioner of Agri culture for six years past. Indeed, Mr, Fur man does not claim originality, and we pre sume he does not insist upon the exact pro portions. It is certainly by no means im portant that the formula, as given by him or announced by the Department of Agricul ture, be strictly followed in putting up a compost. It is intended only as a general guide in the formation of a compost, which ^ may be varied between wide limits, accord- to each farmer’s relative supply of the sev eral ingredients. In conclusion we would not seem to inti mate that every farmer or even more than a very small per centage of farmers, is so situated that they can do as Mr. Furman is doing, and on as large a scale. We are in formed that he lias convenient access to a livery stable in the city of Milledgevllle, • from which he gets the larger part of his ma nure at merely nominal rates. He charges the compost nothing on this score. He may and probably does command more ready cash capital in proportion to the area culti vated than many farmers can command. But he evidently has what every farmer should have—plenty of pluck and energy. He is enthusiastic in his chosen pursuit. He may fail, after all, to grow rlbh by farming, but he will have marked the way for others to follow, and they may avoid his errors and mistakes and profit by bis example. The whole country—North, South, East and AVest—has been aroused by the publication of his essay, and many farmers will adopt the " Furman plan ” next year. To all such we say, go flow. Commence as he did the second year and do not attempt to start abreast with him at the beginning of the sixth year, but build up surely and without risking all on a single die. There is nothing new in the “ Furman system." He is sim ply illustrating—with great intelligence and marvellous nerve and energy the “ intensive ... - . pounds of compost to produce it. which is at f* u 6ht for years in books and agricultural renheit-preferably about 160-and kept at the rate of increase of one hundred pounds iournal8 ’ and practiced on a le «* extensive that Dolnt during the scnldW r, . . ,ureu poimas , . , , . scale by others who have gone before. B. S&EStiS* 8 ¥ 8C ? ldlDg Pr0CC ^ by of seed cotton for each two hundred and fifty addition of hot or cold water as may be nec- pounds of compost applied. This is much essary. or the purpose of regulating the less than the average Increase by the use of ’ 8lnce the above was written we have been In temperature, a thermometer is almost indis- composts when applied in comnarativnlv ( orme<,b 3 r Mr. pu rman that be does not get manure pensable. A little tar, turpentine or ashes small amounts «. ® ora P ar “ tlve Jy |™ m .“ urces 0Ut,We hl > ,Rrn *- He bas, however, IrL'n'af "rToT ** 52lBSKl manure tromnvea horaee and mnlee. merciful way to ki!u hog b to kn«k "iTm orAkrioSturooM^ ^ ^ ?° ramlMlone1, Tl '° Slate tairot South Carolina, atColum- fu tho head with one blow of a large ham nmfn^rioil’n/rh™ 0 ^’ 8A ® ,re(ut «*' bta > attracted the largeet crowd that haa ala* ro°^Tn,,r\,;;“ dShoSg” I tsstsa ZTd 1 ”'^ "I I *srz departments were well represented. The ex hibition of live stock was good, and the show very attractive, was a success. they should, if possible hong until thorough post applied EvervZT™ ? I COm ' Wb,tlon ° f H ve stook was «° ly cold as the -utting out process wUl£ RulTtL^ncreiZ° f a * ricultural machinery thereby greatly facilitated. If the weather, Lure of imy kind Xnot^Ktfn^Ta** n*' 6 falr in every re8peot however, is only moderately old, It will be corresponding or proportion^ mtesof°£ ° re “‘P» i “ ,s n d “« the energy and enterprise safer to cut up the carcasses pretty soon so crease in the yield. The larger tlfeannllil « F*' P ' D,,ncan - P res,dent . »" d T. W that the "animal heat” wfll escape more 1 Won the less the per centage of ilc^Le X ,n ‘ ere8t8 ° f the