204 TliAXSACTIOXS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



coagulum, locking up all the suspended impurities, carn-ing all to the 

 bottom, leaving the liquid, as "will be seen, perfectly clear and trans- 

 parent ; as clear as wine. The clear liquid may then be poured or 

 drawn off and boiled to the proper consistency, producing a perfectly 

 relined and pleasant flavored syrup. The peculiar odor and taste of 

 sorghum being totally removed, as will be seen by a comparison of 

 this crude sorghum and a portion of the same which I will now refine and 

 submit to you. This which I have explained and which you will 

 now see constitutes the whole process. It can be performed here over 

 this gas stove with a gill of syrup, or in the fiirmer's kitchen, or 

 country sugar camp, or in the commercial refinery upon a scale of any 

 required magnitude. 



In continuation of the subject, Mr. J. A. Allen read a letter from 

 Ohio, giving an account of sorgo sugar made by a Mr. Watson, by a 

 combination of shelves over which the syrup passes. The mode is 

 called Spencer's process. It makes from five to eight pounds to the 

 gallon, and operates as well on green cane syrup as on that which is 

 ripe. The room or chamber in which the syrup is thus treated is 

 heated to the temperature of ©ne hundred degrees. Mr. Clough 

 doubted whether good sugar would ever be made from sorgo. 



Mr. Solon Robinson, — I am glad of this lecture on a subject of great 

 importance. But why should we attempt to grow sugar on our rich 

 lands when in Florida and Louisiana land that is worth a dollar an 

 acre, and will produce but seventeen bushels of corn, will yield 2,000 

 pounds of sugar. Sorgo will never compete with a tropical sugar 

 cane. 



Mr, J. B. Lyman inquired of Mr. Clough as to the length of the 

 season required for maturing sorgo, and whether it can be recom- 

 mended to farmers north of !N"ew York city. Mr. C. is of opinion 

 that it pays better than corn in Connecticut. In Ohio it is but from 

 the middle to the last of September. It will prove a paying crop 

 wherever there are four months wholly free from frost. 



KxiFFEX MOWEE. 



The Knifiien mower was exhibited by an elegant little working 

 model. It difters from the Wood, Buckeye and others, in the cam 

 that operates the knives. This is so geared that no matter in what 

 direction the finger bar is moved, the knives keep on just the same. 

 Hence it appears to be superior to the other mowers for side hills and 

 rough land. 



