1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



539 



and perpendicular outline, suc'a as we behold in 

 clearings. 



For the NeiB England Farmer. 



CHINESE SUGAE CANE. 



Last sprino:, through the kindness of the editor 

 of the Jlmerican Jlgiiculturist, I received a paper 

 of seed of the "Sorghum," The 18th of the 5th 

 month I planted sixty-four hills, putting five seed^ 

 in a hill, on a gravelly spot in the garden, and 

 without applying am/ manure, though the land was 

 in good condition for an average crop of corn. I 

 knew the land was not the best, but it was the ear- 

 liest spot I had. The seed did not all come up, and 

 that which did, grew very slowly the first six weeks, 

 owing principally, no doubt, to the cold, wet weath- 

 er which prevailed. It being something new in this 

 region, a number of persons examined it, and the 

 general opinion was, that it would not succeed well 

 here. Early in the 7th month, however, it took a 

 vigorous start, and soon reached the height of six — 

 eight — ten feet. About the first of 9th month, 

 the heads began to appear, and it soon reached the 

 height of lU feet. The 26th of 9th month, 1 cut 

 a iew hills, pounded the stalks, and pressed as 

 much of the juice as I could in a cheese-press, but 

 for want of sufficient power, I obtained but a small 

 part of the whole. This I boiled down, and made 

 a little syrup, which was very fine, though a little 

 acid was perceptible. I have since learned that 

 lime should be used as a corrective. I find one 

 hundred and seventy-six seeds jjroduced canes which 

 headed ; some of them are over twelve feet high. 

 These also threw out one hundred and five suckers, 

 most of which headed, and many of them were as 

 tall as the parent canes. 



I think that "Essex," (p. 407 of current volume,) 

 could he see my "patch" of canes, would think it 

 something else than "a diminutive looking grass," 

 though growing in latitude 44° North. I find it 

 rather more hardy than Indian corn. Mine was 

 not killed until the morning of the and 17th of 

 month, when the mercury fell to 32°, even this 

 t.ien only the ends of the leaves were killed. I cut 

 it up the 20th, and the entire stalk and a portion 

 of- the leaves were green. The 2nd of this month 

 the mercury fell to 35", and corn was visibly 

 marked by frost, yet not aleaf of the Sorghum was 

 touched. The heads appeared in good season, yet 

 I fear that none of the seed will ripen. Some is 

 nearly grown, and I have placed a few stalks in a 

 warm room to see if it will mature. It fills very 

 siowl)', but I attribute it to the abundance of wet 

 weather which we have this fall, which keeps the 

 temperature at a lower point than usual. 



Judging from this my first experiment, I am of 

 the opinion, that, with the aid of suitable machinery 

 for expressing the juice, it may be raised with profit 

 for making syrup, even in this latitude ; and as a 

 crop for feeding to cattle and swine, I have not the 

 least doubt of its utility and value. When the 

 stalks are from four to six feet high, cattle and 

 horses are very fond of it. When full grown, it is 

 too hard for them to eat, but hogs will chew the 

 hardest cane as eagerly as they will an ear of corn, 

 extracting the juice, and leaving nothing but the 

 outside of the stalk, and that thoroughly masticated 

 and pressed. I intend to make another trial next 

 year on a larger scale. I hope those who have ex- 



perimented with it this year, will give the results 

 to the public. 



We have remarkably wet weather— -nineteen out 

 of twenty-five days of this month have been rainy 

 or mostly cloudy, and farmers are consequently 

 very much behind the time in their harvesting. 

 The 20th and 21st were very cold. Snow fell 

 moderately mo-^t of the 20th ; the mean tempera- 

 ture of the day was but 32°. In the morning of 

 the 22ad the mercury fell to 24°. I am informed 

 that snow fell to the depth of eight inches the 

 20th, at London, C, W. Since that time the 

 weather has been mild. Grain is extremely low, and 

 money scarce. L. Vaeney. 



Pidou, a IF., 10 'Mo. 26th, 1857. 



For the New England Farmer. 



EAEMERS' CLUBS. 



Daring the late driving north-east storm, I was 

 thinking what we could do for the benefit of the 

 young farmers of our neighborhood; and it seemed 

 the best thing to be done, was to induce them to 

 associate together for mutual instruction. There is 

 scarcely any town about, where twenty or more 

 could not be enlisted in such an organization, if 

 they could but feel that benefit would accrue there- 

 from. Let it be tried, and all those who are wil- 

 ling to improve, invited to join. Let there be ap- 

 pointed a supervisory committee of three, who shall 

 have the general direction of the meetings at such 

 times and place as can be made most convenient ; 

 and a Secretary to record what is done at each 

 meeting, which record is to be read at the opening 

 at the next succeeding meeting. Let a general in- 

 vitation be given to all interested in the purposes 

 contemplated, to come in and witness what is said 

 and done ; and to communicate of their experience. 

 My word for it, in whatever village this course 

 shall be faithfully pursued for a period of six 

 months, it will not soon be relinquished. If we 

 have apolitical or religious object in view, we bring 

 it about by a'5sociating together. Why not do the 

 same thing,in relation to our own means of living ? 

 This, if 1 do not mistake, has already been done 

 in some of the best farming towns of Old Essex, 

 where may be found as successful culture as else- 

 where. Why not extend the same thing through- 

 out the ' Old Bay State. 



For the New England Fanner. 



A GREAT YIELD OF OATS. 



Mr. Editor :— One year ago last March, I saw 

 advertised in your paper a new kind of oats, called 

 the Australian Oats, by a gentleman in Rhode 

 Island. I sent for some, by mail, and received 

 about a table spoonful. I sowed them in drills on 

 the end of some rows of potatoes, placing the ker- 

 nels about four inches apart, and the yield was 

 twelve quarts. This year I sowed them broadcast, 

 rather thin, and raised thirteen and one-half bush- 

 els, weighing forty pounds to the bushel. The heads 

 were from twelve to nineteen inches long, some of 

 the heads having two hundred and five kernels! 

 If any one has beat this, I should like to hear from 

 them, for I think it a good plan for farmers to 

 raise what yields the most profit. 



C. F. Lincoln. 



JVorth Sherburne, Vt., Oct. 27, 1857. 



