Gillies. — On Sorghum Experiments. 268 



" I think, therefore, that to obtain plants rich in sugar, while the 

 seeds should be planted in rows 8 feet apart, the hills should not be more 

 than 2 feet apart, with 8 to 4 seeds in each hill ; this would tend to 

 encourage the growth of moderate- sized canes rich in sugar. From a 

 farming point of view I should say the Sorghum should be a very useful 

 fodder plant, coming in when pastures are generally parched up ; and, as it 

 can be sown late, land under turnips in winter can easily be prepared for it 

 late in spring, when the turnips are eaten off. While, should only the 

 sugar be successfully extracted from it, it is a plant that will evidently 

 thrive admirably on the alluvial loams of the Waikato District. 



" In growing the above I purposely tried it on land of only ordinary 

 quality and with ordinary treatment, thinking it a fairer test than by forcing 

 the plants on extra rich soil." 



Mr. W. Tetley of Paeroa reports to Mr. Lavers as follows : — " The 

 Sorghum (grown from the two parcels of seed which you kindly sent me, 

 off that which Mr. Justice Gillies had in such a public-spirited manner 

 placed at your disposal) was planted on the 1st and 2nd November. It 

 grew to a height of from 10 feet 6 inches to 12 feet. 



" I planted it on a plat of ground which I considered too wet to grow 

 potatoes, and the season has been rather unfavourable, otherwise I think it 

 would have grown considerably higher and heavier. 



" The weight of cane produced per acre of Honduras and Early Amber 

 (cut as directed, and stripped of leaves) was 13 tons 5 cwt. and 18 tons 

 3 cwt. respectively. 



" From 1 cwt. of the cane we pressed (with a very indifferent machine) 

 6 qts. 1-86 pts. of juice, one gallon of which weighed 10 lbs. 2 oz., and 

 yielded 2 lbs. of treacle. 



" The quantity of juice to the acre will therefore be about 460 gals. 

 from the Honduras, and 630 gals, from the Early Amber, or 920 lbs. and 

 1,260 lbs. of treacle to the acre respectively." 



Mr. S. Meiklejohn, of Matakana, is reported as follows in the news- 

 papers: — " From Mr. S. Meiklejohn, Matakana, we have received a sample 

 of syrup made from Sorghum grown upon his farm this season. He states 

 that he got some seed from Mr. Justice Gillies, through Mr. Lavers, Queen- 

 street, and that he planted it on land which produced four tons of potatoes 

 to the acre. He sowed it in drills three feet apart, and it grew to the height 

 of eight to ten feet. He believes it should be planted in drills not less than 

 six feet apart. When beginning to seed he crushed sufficient cane to pro- 

 duce 35 gallons of juice, which he boiled down to 4 gallons. When the 

 cane was fully ripe he crushed sufficient to yield 10 gallons of juice, and 

 got 17 lbs. of syrup or molasses, a sample of which he has sent to us. The 



