■^GRICULTUR^ ! 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-FOR TnE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1862, 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
the first money he had made by farming in Illinois, 
he said. 
PAPER FROM THE BEGASSB. 
But the sirup it produces is not the only mer¬ 
chantable part of if. It ia found to be a better ma¬ 
terial than straw for the manufacture of paper. It 
is softer and makes a stronger paper. It, however, 
costs as much to manufacture it, and perhaps a 
little more, than it does straw. But it is valuable 
to mix with straw. It softeDs the paper. The 
same process is adopted in its manufacture as 
in the manufacture of straw, either into wrap¬ 
ping or print paper. Whether it will render 
print paper cheaper than it now is, must de¬ 
pend much on the price of bleaching powders. It 
requires double the amount of these to bleach if, 
that rags do, and more than straw. A manufacturer 
asserts, however, that, if they succeed in its manu¬ 
facture into priut paper, as there is prospect they 
will do, it will be found profitable to farmers to dry 
the begasse and bale it ready for shipment. Hence, 
it will be seen that here is another important item, 
It is worth as much per tun to the manufacturer as 
straw, which is worth two and a half or Ihree dol¬ 
lars per tun. In order to insure a sale of this 
begasse it is important that the juice be all crushed 
out of it. The crushing process is a necessary prepa¬ 
ration of the fiber for the paper manufacturer; and 
it is important that, the begasse be dried before fer¬ 
mentation can follow. The value of the fiber ip 
quickly affected by fermentation, and its value for 
manufacturing purposes thereby depreciated. There 
are heaps of it about the various mills in the West, 
which may be made available to the manufacturer 
by a little timely effort. 
ABOUT SEED FOR 1803. 
Where and how the seed for the crop of 1?63 is to be 
obtained is now agitating Sorghum men. The crop 
of good seed the present year is said to be small. 
A gentleman of large experience says he believes 
two-thirds of the seed grown the past year is mon¬ 
grel. Ho had traveled three weeks in Iowa this 
fall to buy seed, and found but two lots that he 
would plant. Farmers are careless in planting— 
plant it too near broom corn, or other allied species 
with which it will hybridize. But the greatest diffi¬ 
culty seems to be, that care ia not taken to select 
the seed of the best corn—the earliest, purest, and 
that which yields the greatest amount of saccha¬ 
rine matter—that positive improvement in the 
character of the crop is not Becured, instead of posi¬ 
tive deterioration. 
A gentleman largely interested in these matters 
suggests that local Agricultural Societies could do 
the community great service by appointing com¬ 
mittees or a committee to canvass each township 
and impress the importance of this case in the selec¬ 
tion of seed upon the farmers of said township- 
selecting, and if necessary purchasing, the best seed 
that can lie found. Such committees might, do great 
good; and every man who regards this an important 
matter may profitably (to the country) employ his 
personal influence in his neighborhood in this direc¬ 
tion. This will be one of the duties of the Sorghum 
Convention soon to meet at Rockford in this State— 
to adopt some system by which good, pure seed may 
be secured the coming year. 
THE BEST SOIL FOR SORGHUM, 
Each year’s experience establishes the fact that 
a light sandy loam, or gravel, or clayey soil is much 
better for this crop than the black, mucky, prairie 
soils. The dilference is apparent more in the 
quality ol' the sirup manufactured than otherwise; 
but it is found also that the same amount of juice 
yields a greater amount of saccharine matter. It is 
found that the crude article of sirup grown on the 
mucky soils, even if as light colored, does not refine 
as well as that manufactured from cane grown on 
the light sandy or gravelly soils. Refiners make a 
tributed in different parts of the West, and resulted 
in quite a crop of samples, grown on different soils, 
with great difference in culture. Analyses of these 
samples have been made with results depending, ap¬ 
parently,upon l he different conditions (ofsoil,climate 
and culture,) under which they were grown. The 
per cent, of cane sugar these samples have been 
found to contain has ranged from from 3 to 13 per 
centum. This range is greater than that of the same 
product in France or Germany, I thiuk. The aver¬ 
age will compare favorably with the sweetness of 
the beets produced in those countries with all the 
advantages of experience and superior culture 
which belong there. The soils on which the sam¬ 
ples yielding the greatest, per cent, were grown 
were either very stiff, pure clays, or sandy soils. 
Culture had much to do with the result. Some 
samples were grown out ot the ground—above the 
surface. Such did not contain much Rugar, while 
samples to which the earth was drawn and were 
grown beneath the surface yielded a much greater 
product. The directions given in the present volume 
of the Rural have proved profitable to those who 
cultivated their crop after the manner then recom¬ 
mended. 
About the profit of this crop there should, of 
course, be some interest felt. Those who know 
best usaert that if the beet, as grown here, will yield 
six per cent, of caue sugar it will be the moat profit¬ 
able crop the farmer can rai.-e. If 121 tuns of the 
root can be grown per acre, containing six per cent, 
of sugar, the sugar product will be 15n0 pounds per 
acre. This product, at six cents per pound, will be 
$90 per acre to be divided between the producer 
and his co-workers, and the manufacturer and those 
who aid him. Those who have growu roots in the 
West will not set 121 tuns per acre down as a very 
large crop to grow on prairie soils. The experi¬ 
ments in the manufacture of this crop into sugar, 
which are soon to commence in Ibis city, will be 
regarded with great interest, and will determine, to 
a great extent, the future of the crop here. So great 
is the confidence ol experienced Germans in the 
capacity and adoptability of western soils to the 
profitable culture of this crop, that largo invest¬ 
ments have been made in land, and extensive prep¬ 
arations are being made for cultivating a large crop 
the coming year. One gentleman near Cbutsworth, 
in this State, is to plant 200 acres next spring. 
SUGAR BEET CULTURE IN’ FRANCE. 
An Eastern contemporary very cautiously cast a 
small tub of cold water on the revival of the inter¬ 
est in sugar beet culture in this country, last spring, 
quoting the early portion of its history in France to 
chill said water in said little tub. There was data 
in my possession then with which I had intended to 
reply; but the matter was necessarily deferred too 
long. Recently, however, I have seen a London 
Sugar Circular from one of the beat informed firms 
in that city, from which I am permitted to publish 
the following facts, showing the progress of this cul¬ 
ture there. The circular says: 
“ The progress of this industry in France is 
remarkable,—the more so since it proceeds under 
the heavy infliction of duties and taxation. The 
produce of beet sugar in France in L832 was only 
9,000 tuns; in 1840, 40,000 tuns; in 1852, 08,000 tuns; 
in 1860,113,000 tuns; in 1801,159,000 tuna. In combi¬ 
nation with the distillation of molasses and cattle 
feeding from the pulp, the beet culture is looked 
upon next to the vine, as the most profitable branch 
ot Agriculture, and liable to further great exten¬ 
sion.” 
Of the beet sugar produced in 1861, 112.832 tuns 
went into general consumption in France; 8,604 
tuns were exported from the country, leaving a 
stock on hand ot 7,712 tuns. It should be remem¬ 
bered that beet sugar in France pays the same duty 
to the Government that foreign sugars do; and yet 
Us production is profitable and constantly increas¬ 
ing. In Germany the same result follows its cul¬ 
ture. Profits there, are, if anything, greater. And 
here we have no such expensive system of manur¬ 
ing, no rents to pay, light, taxes, improved imple¬ 
ments of culture, aud the genius and enterprise 
which adapts means to accomplish ends with such 
successes as to render the profit of sugar beet cul¬ 
ture almost certain. At least it is worthy the atten¬ 
tion of those who grow poor by grain growing. 
and size of this remarkable flock of sheep? [The 
reporter is at the West; we hope Mr. C. will re¬ 
spond.—E d.] 
THE SHEEP FEVER. 
This fever is eminently contagious, not among 
the innocent, sheep, but among (be genus homo; 
the pacific eflluvia which is so effectually absorbed 
and as surely effective in its results is from the 
essence, of Gain, and when compressed and in a 
material form is known as the “Almighty Dollar.” 
Memory doth not call up the time when sheep 
were in such demand, since the war of 1812 us this 
fall. Every one who keeps any kind of stock wants 
a “few more sheep.” Lambs, half to three-fourths 
Merino, or less, dropped in May, here in Northern 
Maine are bringing $2 25 to $3; sheep, $2.75 to $3.- 
50 by the flock. 
WIUE FENCE. 
There has been but little of Uiia fence built in 
this section owing to fhere being a native supply 
of materials, and where it has been erected, as a 
general thing, if, has proved a failure, as far as I 
am advised, yet it looked as though it. would have 
been a fairer test of its merits hud it been put, up 
in a workman like manner. The strands have not 
been stretched so taut as recommended in the 
Rural of Nov. 15, lest when the posts were frozen 
in thegiound the cold weather would shorleu the 
wires enough to break Ibern outright; but, on the 
contrary, were put in so that in a short time they 
would sag between some of the posts and injure the 
looks and efficiency of the same. 
For us, iu the East, in would be a good public 
investment,, if roads are to be fenced, and they 
probably will be for a long time to come, because 
they are already nearly all fenced, and for the con¬ 
venience of the thing, to put up wire fences along 
many of ihe public roads. The expense of keep¬ 
ing the roads open, over and through the snow¬ 
drifts would in a few years build all the fences 
necesraty along the highways where stone-wall o: 
wood fences cause the snow to lodge from four feet 
to ten feet, deep in the traveled path. If it will do 
to stretch the wires so they will slay in place I can 
see no reason why they may noL be built so to be 
durable aud efficient. But when the ihermometer 
is down to 30° below zero there would have to be 
some reserved slack somewhere to meet the tension 
thus brought to bear. 
THE WEATHER. 
The seventh of November it commenced snowing 
8 o’clock, P. M., wind east, in Franklin county, and 
ceased in the night. About four inches fell and 
rain followed the 9t.h—enough to spoil the sleighing. 
We now have had a three days’ rain and it, is still 
rainiDg at the v. riling of this, Nov. 21, which has 
taken thp frost nearly all out of the ground. It was 
much needed lo till swamps, brooks, rills, wells, and 
pprings for winter. It has been a pleasent fall, 
except some high winds which prostrated many fine 
trees. 
Frank Li n Co., Maine, 1862. 
barns are used, the corn, if husked early, is very 
liable to mould. Very many thousands of bushels of 
Indian corn are annually wasted, destroyed, and 
injured because of defective storage. For three 
years past 1 have used a crib of iny own invention 
and construction, the ventilation of which is perfect * 
so that, early husking, while the. weather is pleasant’ 
is sate—its contents are exempt from rats, utiee und 
birds; it is ot light cost—as any farmer who knows 
how to use saw und square may build one—and, 
moreover, if well built is a neat and tasteful ap¬ 
pendage to any farmer’s premises. As winter is a 
good time to prepare materials, perhaps it. will now 
be seasonable to give a 
THU LEADING AMERICAN WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOOEB, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 
CHAS, D. BRAG DON, Western Corresponding Editor. 
The Rctral Nkw-Yokkkr Is (tesis:u«d to he unsurpassed in 
Value, Purity, rfsefulitese and Variety of Content?, end unique 
and beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor devotee hie per- 
Bona) attention to the eupervision of its various departments, 
*Dd earnestly labors to render the RntAL an eminently Reliable 
Guide ou *11 the important Pi-notion, Scientific and other 
Subjecte intimately connected with the business of those whose 
interest? It tealously advocates As s Family Jopknai, it (s 
eminently Instructive and Entertaining — being- ho conducted 
that It can he safely taken to the Hearts and Homes of people 
of intelligence, taste and dineriminatinq ft embraces more 
Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Educational. Literary 
and .Vows Matter, interspersed with appropriate and beautiful 
Engravings, than any other Journal,—rendering it the most 
complete Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper 
in America 
tF For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
Description:— Plant in the ground firmly, not 
less than 3.1 feet deep, six posts, of the most durable 
wood tbafc can be obtained, spaced so as to support 
a structure 6 feet by 12. Cut them off level 2 feet 
from the surface of the ground, then shave them 
round and smooth, and sheathe them with tin at 
least 12 inches at the top. On fliese posts spike 
sills of 4 by 4 oak scantling halved together, with 
cross joists framed in. On this nail a floor of haul 
wood boards. The side sills and the floor should 
project 12 inches at, the end where the door is placed. 
Now with white oak ribs, sawed 3 inches wide fly i.f 
thick, lay up the crib, (ns a log house is built,) lay¬ 
ing 'be ribs flatwise, nailing them firmly together 
wherever they come in contact, and nailing a block, 
or short piece of rib, in the middle of the sides be¬ 
tween each long rib. This, when finished, will have 
the appearance of a post. Some thick, cheap paint, 
should he applied, as the work progresses, where- 
ever the ribs touch each other. Plumbed straight 
edges should be nailed up, as a guide In building, at 
the corners. At, one end of the crib a door frame 
(made of ribs) with flanges to receive the ribs of 
which the end is built, should be built in. Attached 
to this door may be a box, with a roof cover, so con¬ 
structed that the box may bo removed at pleasure 
when entrance into the crib is desired. At other 
limes it will be full of corn for use. About Gleet 
high from the sills will be a proper height for the 
walls. When Ihewalls are of this height, they should 
be braced on the inside, as pictured in the engraving. 
A light post at each end (inside) and one in the cen¬ 
ter. will support a ridge pole. To tills ridge pole 
one side of the roof may be firmly nailed. The 
other side may be nailed at each end, and in the 
middle, leaving two spaces without nailing for the 
purpose of filling the crib with a scoop-shovel from 
a wagon driven alongside. The roof may be of 
wide pine boards projecting well at the eaves and 
gables, and battened. The materials for the con¬ 
struction of such a crib will cost, here, a trifle over 
$5, and it will hold over 300 bushels even measure, 
or over 250 bushels of ears of corn. I tried, first, 
inverted tin pans on the post tops. An agile rat 
would occasionally scramble over. I added the 
sheathing; it was effectual. Peter Hathaway. 
Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, 18C2. 
SOME SORGHUM ITEMS. 
It is difficult to give a Down-Easter who has 
never visited the West an adequate idea of the revo¬ 
lution the Sorghum product is working, and is 
likely to work in the husbandry of Western farmers. 
And this leads me to say here, that I never before 
saw such an opening for the profitable employment 
of unemployed capital as is apparent now. Land 
may be purchased cheap, the tools are at hand with 
which to work it economically, and without the aid 
of much manual labor; and the crops that may be 
grown have no uncertain value and yield a large 
profit. Wituees what I shall write below. 
THE CROP OF 1863. 
It is large in tho aggregate, but it is doubted if 
the yield of sirup is so large per acre as that of some 
former seasons. It has been an unfavorable season 
for the production of the cane in most localities. 
The spring was late and the seed was not planted 
early; then it became wet and cold, and the plant 
did not begin to grow much until after the 1st or 
15th of July; and then it grew too rapidly. The 
weeds meantime advanced faster than the plant,_ 
the ground being so wet this could not bo prevented. 
In some instances it was so wet that no team could 
travel in it. Hundreds of acres, therefore, were left to 
themselves, and the weeds overtopped the Sorghum. 
This, of course, diminished the crop, and prevented 
many fields being harvested at all. 
GOOD CROPS FOLLOW GOOD CULTURE. 
This is an invariable rule, no matter what the 
character of the product. But it has been strikingly 
established by the Sorghum crops of the present 
year. Good culture has doubled, and in some 
instances tripled the product. One gentleman told 
me be knew of an instance where two fields, ad¬ 
joining each other, were planted in Sorghum at the 
same time. The seed germinated equally well in 
each ca'e. One Geld received thorough culture; the 
other was neglected, comparatively. The result 
was, 300 gallons of simp to the acre from the culti¬ 
vated field, and only 80 gallons per acre from the 
neglected one—a difference of $55 per acre in favor 
of the cultivated field, reckoning the sirup at the 
lowest price paid for the crude article at the farm of 
the producer. 
This is not an exceptional case by any means. I 
have listened to just such scathing criticisms upon 
the kind of husbandry pursued by many farmers, at 
almost every manufactory I have visited in the 
West this fall. Good culture pays. Poor culture, 
or no culture, does not pay. 
HOW MUCH SORGHUM PAYS. 
Take the above instance of the farmer who pro¬ 
duced 300 gallons per acre. At 25 cents per gallon 
it yields him $75 per acre. From this is to be de¬ 
ducted tho labor and the interest on the capital 
employed in its production. It would leave a 
profit of $50 per acre without any sort of doubt. 
But 25 cents per gallon is the minimum price for 
this product) T he price the producer realizes is 25 
to 50 cents pergallon, depending upon the character 
of the sim p, the di ; tance from market, Ac. From 35 
to 40 cents per gallon is paid for the crude article in 
this city (Chicago) for refining. From this must be 
deducted freights hither. 
But it is the best crop grown this year, where it 
haB been properly cared for. One farmer came to 
this State from New York State a few years since, 
and purchased a farm of the Illinois Central Rail¬ 
road Co. He went into grain growing —small 
grain. Did not pay expenses. He tried corn, and 
scarcely made a living. Wus about abandoning the 
West, when the product from a half acre of Sor¬ 
ghum he had planted attracted his attention. He 
applied a little arithmetic to the result aud figured 
out future profit. The result, was the thorough prepa- 
raiion of 23 acres of land for the Sorghum crop of 
1862. It was planted and thoroughly cultivated. 
He sold the product in this city a few days since, 
aud found the net profit of ihe crop to be $25 per acre; 
The Winter season is indeed one of comparative 
leisure to the husbandm in, yet a thorough and in¬ 
dustrious farmer finds but little leisure at any 
season of the year. Though we are all endowed 
with social qualities of mind and are more or less 
fond of amusement, many farmers make this a 
season of recreation beyond what is profitable or 
beneficial. The general appearance ol a man s farm, 
and the condition of his stock in the Spring of :he 
year, tell ia a great degree how the Winter has been 
spent; and if rightly improved, when the season for 
more active farming operations shall arrive, he will 
be prepared to commence his labors fully armed 
and equipped with suitable implements of hus¬ 
bandry, aud his teams will likewise be iu a condi¬ 
tion to perform their labors with cheerfulness and 
alacrity. If the winter arid early spring months are 
wisely aud properly improved, the advantage and 
beneficial results arising therefrom will be plainly 
seen and felt throughout the year. 
Thu farmer’s duties and labors are not confined 
exclusively to the farm. Most farmers have sons 
aud daughters to educate and fit for the varied 
duties and responsibilities of mature life,—and it is 
at this season of the year that the greatest portion of 
them receive the most of their education. This 
season of relaxation from farm labors affords them 
an opportunity to cultivate their tuiuds and stock 
them with useful knowledge; and it is highly im¬ 
portant that they should be properly trained and 
disciplined, for the human mind is a prolific soil, and 
without proper cultivalion will send forth spontane¬ 
ous productions, tho evil consequences and influ¬ 
ences of which will be seriously felt in every branch 
and department of society. At this season every 
farmer, however advanced iu life or well skilled in 
STANBROUGH’3 SEEDING MACHINE. 
Ouu engraving is intended to represent a machine 
for sowing Clover, Timothy, Turnip, and other 
small seeds, and also plaster, invented and patented 
by Mr. Samuel Stanhkocgu, of Washtenaw county, 
Mich. Tt has been used for three or four years by 
many farmers in that State, and said to be highly 
approved. Tho sowing-box is longer than repre¬ 
sented in the engraving, and sows from 10 to 12 feet 
wide. We saw this machine a few days ago, and 
witnessed its operation,—at an in-door trial,—and 
were favorably impressed with its simplicity, con¬ 
struction, aud apparent accuracy iu distributing 
seed evenly, it can easily be changed from a hand 
lo a horse machine. We consider it worthy the 
attention of farmers interested, though we cannot 
speak of its practical operation in the field. For 
further information see advertisement iu this paper. 
EASTERN RURAL NOTES. 
BY DR. O. W. TRUE. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— You have TPcsfem 
Notes, aud why not have Eastern Notes, even 
though they should not be as valuable? Would 
they not he of some enhancing value to your already 
vigorous and enterprising paper? Here, then, let 
us try a few rounds and see whether or no they may 
not strike a chord or two in the major key which 
shall be en rapport with a few readers, to say the 
least. 
SILESIAN SHEEP. 
In your report of the N. Y. State Fair, of October 
11, p. 325, present volume, Mr. Chamukiu.ain gives 
the average of his flock, of 400, at nine pounds. 
Was this washed wool ? We here in the East wish 
more light about these sheep, because this is much 
better shearing than our flocks will average, even 
though kept in much smaller flocks. Will the Re¬ 
porter or Mr. Chamberlain tell us about the keep 
A GOOD AND CHEAP CORN CRIB 
In passing around the country since corn harvest 
I have noticed with interest the different methods of 
farmers iu storing its valuable product. Some have 
cribs variously constructed, some store in barns and 
outhouses, and a few have costly corn houses. In 
nearly all cases the corn is exposed to the depreda¬ 
tions of rats and mice, sometimes to birds, aud where 
