II. S. OLCOTT ON THE SORGHO AND IMPIIEE. 415 



Algiers, in his report to the Minister of War, says lie got a result 

 of 83,250 lbs. of green forage per acre. Our own Patent Office 

 -Report for 1855 says, " Aside from other economical uses, its 

 value for feeding to animals alone, in every section of the Union 

 where it will thrive, can not be surpassed by any other crop, as a 

 greater amount of nutritious fodder can not be obtained so cheap- 

 ly in a given space within so short a time; and without wishing 

 to present the question in an extravagant light, it may be stated 

 that this crop is susceptible of being cultivated within the terri- 

 tory of the United States to an extent equal to that of Indian corn, 

 say 25,000,000 acres per annum ; and estimating the average yield 

 of dry gr cured fodder to the acre at two tons, the yearly amount 

 produced would be 50,000,000 tons, which, to keep within bounds, 

 would be worth at least $500,000,000, besides the profits derived 

 from the animals in milk, flesh, labor, and wool." 



Making Sugar or Sirup on a small Scale. 



[Mr. Olcott gives full instructions for the manufacture of sugar on a large and 

 small scale. We quote only his directions for the latter.] 



For the benefit of a large class whose facilities or inclinations 

 have induced them only to jDlant a small patch of Chinese sugar- 

 cane by way of experiment, 3- et who, nevertheless, are desirous of 

 making a trial of sirup or sugar making on their own account, I 

 subjoin the following description of a process by which, at a tri- 

 fling expense, both sirup and sugar may be manufactured in a 

 small way for family use by any farmer or householder M'ho has 

 but a few canes growing in his garden, and which may be applied 

 to any operation on from five to twenty -five gallons of juice. Of 

 course, the first thing is to permit the Sorgho to fully ripen, as in 

 that condition it makes the best sirup, and will be free from the 

 grass/ flavor complained of in previous experiments. This is 

 known by the seeds becoming black and hard. When fully ripe, 

 then, with a corn-cutter, a large carving-knife, or, what is better, a 

 small hatchet, cut the canes off close to the roots, strip off their 

 leaves as far as the joints extend, and chop off the rest of the stalk, 

 saving the seeds for future planting if the cane proves to be of 

 good quality ; if not, give them to the chickens. 



The next thing is to extract the juice from the stalks or canes. 

 This must be done by pressing them between rollers. If there is 

 a cider-mill on the premises, it will be all-sufficient. Pass them 

 through it just as you would crush apples, catching the juice in 

 some clean vessel with as few chips or dirt in it as possible. Now 

 build a fireplace with stones, or set up two forked poles, and put 

 another across, on which sling your pot, which may be of sheet 

 tin, but had better be of cast iron. Let it hold say ten gallons. 

 Get a small tin skimmer at a tinsmith's shop, and you are prepared 

 to commence boiling;. 



