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inches high it should be chopped and thinned out, and birt 

 little more work need be dooe to it. Two plowings are all 

 it should receive, as the roots penetrate the ground so 

 thickly the plant would receive more injury than benefit S 

 plowed after it is three or four feet high. Besides, by that 

 time the ground is so sbaded by lateral branches and suckeras 

 the weeds will eflFect no material injury. 



Much difference of opinion existed at first, and still ex- 

 ists, as to the best time of cutting. Some assert when the 

 seeds are in the milky state, others whea they are fully ma- 

 tured, is the most lavorable time. A sliglit degree ot frost 

 does not injure it, and this opinion has caused the loss cS 

 many a crop, for, with our usual procrastiaatiou, this belles' 

 is allowed to influence many to let it stand until a severe 

 frost comes, when the cane is rendered worthless. Whea- 

 -ever it freezes, fermentation ensues, and it will not make 

 syrup at all, or it it does it is black and has a disagreeable 

 odor. But repeated experiments have demonstrated the 

 fact that early cut caae makes the best and cleanest molasses. 

 Still if the farmer has a large crop, he will have an oppor- 

 tunity of testing it in all stages, for it will take a long time 

 to express the juice of a large crop and boil it down. 



When the seeds are in the milky state, let the stripping 

 and boiling begin. It is not our purpose to go into a 

 lengthy detail of syrup making, it being rather our province 

 to treat of sorghum as a cattle food than otherwise, and we 

 will only give a general description. Besides, since the in- 

 ■yention of cane mills and evaporators, there is hardly a 

 man in the Slate who is not thoroughly conversant with the 

 process. One thing every one should bear in mind and thai 

 is, do not be too particular to press every panicle ol juice 

 from the stalk. The first pressure well applied will get, 

 generally speaking, all the saccharine pi incipleS, the second 

 pressure only sending out gums, cellulose and some color- 

 ing matters. The syrup would be clearer and sweeter iithe 

 outer rind of the stalk could be stripped oli and only the 



