96 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



its stalks may be steamed during the winter, and given to 

 horses, oxen or cows, which will commence eating at one end 

 and not leave them till entirely consumed. The seeds, also, 

 I have no doubt, will prove valuable as a feed for poultry, as I 

 find they eat them with avidity. I look upon this plant as of 

 great value as a forage crop, and possibly, it may be profitably 

 cultivated for sugar, as the juice contains nearly ten per cent, 

 of saccharine matter as clear as crystal, and on a very small 

 scale, beautiful clarified sugar was produced by my friend Dr. 

 Ray." 



Other statements are equally unqualified in the expression of 

 confidence in the value of this plant. I subjoin the following 

 practical suggestions on the cultivation of it, from a valuable 

 little manual by Mr. Hyde, of Newton Centre, who has experi- 

 mented with it. He says : — 



" Select a warm and dry soil, such as you would select for 

 Indian corn. 



Prepare your ground precisely as you would for corn, either 

 by spreading your manure, or putting in hills, — about the same 

 distance between the hills, where the ground is rich. 



In planting, which should be done early, put into each hill 

 six or eight seeds. Cover lightly with well pulverized soil, — 

 say, three-fourths to one inch deep ; pull out all but four or 

 five at second hoeing. If planted in drills, seed enough should 

 be used so that after hoeing there may be a stalk to every four 

 or five inches ; from a pound and a half to two poimds of seed 

 should be used. 



Cultivate and hoe as with corn ; care should be taken that 

 the ignorant do not hoe up the young plants, taking them for 

 barn-grass, which they very much resemble. 



When the panicles appear they should be cut off of all that 

 which is intended for sugar or syrup making. 



When the plant has just passed into bl(jom, the stalk may be 

 used for syrup, but will continue to grow better until the seed 

 is in the milk-stage, or little later. 



The stalks should be cut close to the ground, with a bill-hook 

 or some such tool, and stripped of their leaves, and the green, 

 succulent top cut off, when they are ready for the mill ; the 

 leaves and top may be fed green to cattle, or dried. 



