210 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



taught its value, its adaptability to our soil and climate, its 

 strength and importance as one of the factors which might be 

 used to help increase our nation's wealth. And he who can 

 impart information that will help to quicken this grand result, 

 and then refuses or neglects to do so, is a debtor to his fellow- 

 men. We enjoy the watchful care of a good government, its 

 constant protection to life, liberty, and property. Its prosperity 

 as a nation is ours as individuals, and duty bids us all to con- 

 tribute according to our ability for the nation's good. 



It will be my purpose only to give practical information to 

 the class of men before mentioned, in order that the cultivation 

 and manufacture of sugar and molasses from sorghum may be- 

 come one of the main industries of the land. Sugar and mo- 

 lasses can truly be called the staff of life, for with our American 

 people at present prices it costs them more than bread. Our 

 nation pays to foreign lands over one hundred million dollars 

 annually for the sugars we import, every dollar's worth of 

 which, with our present information, should be made at home ; 

 and this can be profitably done, providing farmers and others 

 will give heed and learn the business. My instruction may ap- 

 pear to some too complete and perhaps superfluous; but you 

 must have charity, and remember all are not profoundly wise ; 

 and they who need this information most perhaps may not belong 

 to the fortunate class. 



Sorghum can be profitably grown in any climate or soil that 

 will produce good Indian corn, and it will stand more heat and 

 drought, and flourish equally well. Its cultivation and harvest- 

 ing costs no more when properly done. Early varieties can be 

 selected that, in the Middle and Northern States, will mature in 

 from one hundred to one hundred and twenty days; and when 

 the seed is nearly ripe or in good stiff dough, the stalks or 

 canes will make good sugar, and will continue in that condi- 

 tion many weeks from six to eight at least. Our factory, in 

 1882, worked, from the same field, cane from the 3d of October 

 until the llth of November, and it would have been equally 

 good both earlier and later. In the Southern States, a number 

 of farmers have written me that from very early planting they 



