-V'^JS^ 



362 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMEK. 



Dec. 



Illinois State Agricultural Society. 



A meetir ,; of the Executive Committee will 

 be held at the Rooms of the Society in Spring- 

 field, coTnmencing January 7, 1862. 



The premiums offered on Essays, Farms, 

 Nurseries, Orchards, Field Crops, Draining, 

 Book keepinjr, Sugar and Sirup will then be 

 awarded. 



The following is a list of premiums for which 

 entries may be made up to the first day of the 

 meeting. Entries for the other premiums are 

 closed. 



ESSAYS. 



Best approved essay on the breed ng, rearing, break- 

 ing aiKi mm ifr.ment of Horses in Illinois, based on 

 the practice ,1.1(1 tiieory of the author... |10 



Best approved ■- ssay oq the breediiiEr, r arinp; and man- 

 ageiues of Cttle in Illino s, based on the practice 

 aud ex;ierience of the author 10 



Same for She- p .'_, , '.'.'...'.' 1(» 



Same for Swine ]0 



Best approved essay on the cultivatioa of Cotton in Uli'- 

 nois 20 



Best approved es.^ay en the cultivation of Chinese and 

 African Sugar Canes, the expression of their juice, 

 and their mi. lufacture into sirup and sugar, based on 

 the practice of the authors 10 



Best ap. roved essay on Farming in the north half of Illi- 

 nois -JO 



Same ff r S luih half of Illinois ..'..'.'.'.'.'..'.'.. 10 



Bestappruved es:iy on the preparation of soil for Fall 

 Whe<a, Hpii gWlieat, Corn and Oats 10 



Best apiirovd es9iy on Orchards in Illinois, embracing 

 the select' ncf trees, location, preparation of soil, cul- 

 ture and after niana;ement cf frees and fruit 10 



Bestaiipro ve ; essay on Road making on the prairies of 

 Illinois 10 



Best approved essay on Drainage, showing the methods 

 pur9ue(., the .mp ovements resulting therefrom, with 

 a full ueiail of opera ioiis, the dfpthof drainin difl'er- 

 ent sniis, and the expense attending the same 10 



Best api^roved essay on Infects injurious to vegetation in 

 Illinois with sugg^-sMons as to the best means for their 

 destr action 25 



SUGAR AND .'SIRUP. 



Best 10 5)3 Sugar, made from Chinese or African Sugar 

 Oane $25 



Best gallon of firup, made from Chinese or African Sugar 

 Cabe, witaout the u.>e of cleansing agents oth;r than 

 fire a' d the skimmer 1.5 



Best gallon of Sirup made from same in any manner. . . 15 



Competitors to furnish careful detailed state- 

 ment of mode of manu''acture, machines and 

 implements used, and cost of production, veri- 

 fied by affidavit, and samples to be sent to the 

 Agricultural Society's Rooms, for the January 

 meeting, 18G2. 



In view of the great interest the citizens of 

 the Nor ''West have in the manufacture of Su- 

 gar and Sirup from the Chinese and African 

 Canes, it is confidently expected there will be a 

 large exhibition of very superior samples. 



Manufactu'-'Ts of Mills and Evaporators will 

 ■ certainly find it to their interest to have on ex- 

 hibition, samples of the product of their imple- 

 ments. 



Any correspondence designed to be laid be- 

 fore the Executive Committee at this meeting, 

 should reach me or some member of the Board, 

 before the 7th of January, 1862. 



John P. Reynolds, 

 Cor. Sec'y 111. State Ag'l Soc'y. 



Rooms of State Ag'l Soc'y, ) 

 Spei.ngfield, Nov. 2:i, 1S61. f 



Sorghum Manufacture. 



We have visited three different establishments 

 recently, for the manufacture of sugar cane into 

 sirup, and the results are still more encouraging 

 than of any previous year. A. 11. Miller's Ro- 

 tary Alternating Evaporator is the kin^ in use 

 at each of the places we visited. Our first visit 

 was to Mr Fletcher, of South Rockford, who 

 had just set up his mill and evaporator in the 

 most substantial manner, and had turned off the 

 last crop of sirup, which was very fair., and of 

 excellent quality. 



We next looked at the works of Joel Faulkner, 

 on the Byron road, four miles south of Rockford. 

 He was also a new beginner, but was succeeding 

 admirably, bavin r made several specimens of 

 sirup that we have not seen excelled anywhere 

 yet. 



On Saturday last we went to see Mr. Foster, of 

 East Rockford, who has been manufacturing 

 sirup from the sugar cane ever since it was first 

 grown in the country. List year Mr. Foster 

 used one of Cook's Evaporators, but this year 

 disposed of it, and is iryirg one of Miller's, and 

 he does not hesitate to pronounce it far superior 

 to Cook's. To use his own language, that "he 

 would not use one of Cook"s Evaporators if it 

 was given to him, after trying Miller's." He 

 further states that the one in present use con- 

 sumes less wood, and is much less liable to scorch 

 or burn syrup, and can reduce the juice of the 

 cane to a heavier article of sirup and much 

 faiier. 



AVe have closely observed the growing and 

 manufacturing of the sorghum for the last three 

 or four years, and have learned from others ex- 

 perienced in the business, sufficient to confirm 

 us in the opinion that the manufacturing of sirup 

 and sugar from this plant is a success, and will 

 save millions of money to our country. 



The most imporlant thing to learn r.ow is, how 

 to grow the plant successfully and have it ripen 

 in season for this climate. We must seek the 

 earliest varieties and plant early, and adopt all 

 processes that will advance the growth of the 

 cane. Also, we have to learn more about the 

 proper timp, and the best manner of cutting and 

 preparing the cane for the mill. If we can suc- 

 cessfully grow the cane and have it ripen, which 

 we have not the least don' t, there is no further 

 question in reference to the manufacture of sirup 

 and sugar. 



Mills and evaporators of sufficient capacity 

 will be ready for the most successful execution of 

 the work. The gentlemen whom we visited ex- 

 pressed a des re that we should have another 

 Sugar Convention immed ately after the season 

 for manufacture Is over. This will be a very 

 important suojcct for consideration at this time, 

 and we hope that there will be a mutual agree- 

 ment among all those who are growing cane, as 

 as well as manufacturers, to make it an occasion 

 worthy of the importance of the subject. — Rock- 

 ford Register. 



— The man who lately drew an inference 

 has gone to drawing a hand cart, as it pays 

 better. 



