SORGHO IN THE SOUTH. 347 
present year (1857) I have cut it four times, up to the present date, 
August 26. 
During the summer of 1856, particular attention was called to the 
syrup making properties of this plant, by the Report of Governor 
Hammond, of South Carolina, whose experiments had been most ably 
and carefully conducted. 
This Report was read before the “ Beach Island (S. C.) Farmers’ 
Club,” and was followed by that of Colonel Peters, of Atlanta, and 
others, all of which were published, and presented such satisfactory 
results that the agricultural community generally were aroused to the 
importance of the new “ Sugar Cane,” and desirous of giving it a trial. 
The largest growers of the plant, at this time (1856) were, Absalom 
Jackson, Esq., of Montgomery, Ala.; Colonel R. Peters, of Atlanta; 
Dr. Whitten, of Hancock Co.; Dr. Daniell, of Decatur, Ga., 
and the writer. The seed raised by these persons was, we believe, 
nearly all saved, and very widely disseminated over the Union, but 
principally through the southern states, where, unquestionably, the 
plant attains its fullest and most perfect development. ‘Twenty or 
thirty thousand packages of the seed alluded to were scattered over 
the country ; and, in the South alone, probably thousands of acres 
are now growing. A large number of the growers are preparing to 
convert the juice of the sorgho into syrup and sugar; and if an easy 
and economical process for crystallizing the latter can be employed, 
this plant will at once become one of our most important staple pro- 
ductions. I have, within the past two months, received letters from 
gentlemen in nearly every one of the southern states, who were rais- 
-ing the cane from seed which I furnished, and the terms of praise, and 
even enthusiasm, with which they dwell upon its good qualities, are 
truly gratifying to me. Upon the whole, therefore, the sorgho may 
be considered a decided success, in the South, and the results obtained 
may be briefly summed up as follows : 
1. An acre of the stalks, properly cultivated, on fair land, will 
yield from three hundred to six hundred gallons of excellent syrup, 
equal to the bestNew Orleans, and worth, at present prices, from 
forty-five to seventy cents per gallon. 
2. If planted early, it will fully ripen two crops of seed, and two 
