548 
« 
AUG 5 
■ 
/ 
THI BUBAL NEW-YOBKfB 
been obtained; it provides also a further 
bounty of one cent per pound to be paid to the 
manufacturer for each pound of cane sugar 
made from such materials. After the passage 
of this act the Senate, on motion of Senator 
Taylor, requested the Agricultural College to 
experiment on the sorghum plant, in order to 
further its cultivation by the farmers of this 
State. 
The field selected for the experiment is a 
thoroughly underdrained, rather heavy piece 
of land, cropped last year with field corn 
grown on sod, to which a liberal dressing of 
barnyard manure had been applied. On that 
portion devoted to the trial of different varie¬ 
ties, Mapes’s Sorghum Manure was used this 
year immediately before planting, at the rate 
of six hundred pounds per acre. 
Dr. Collier, Chemist of IT. S. Department of 
Agriculture, in his val liable reports has clearly 
shown that the condition of the ripening seed 
may be taken as an index to the condition of 
the juice of the plant. When the seeds have 
become so hard that they can no longer be 
split with the finger nail, the stalks will con¬ 
tain the maximum amount of sugar and min¬ 
imum of glucose, and when this stage is 
reached the plant may be regarded as matured. 
Of the fourteen varieties planted five only 
matured. Their relative value to the manu¬ 
facturer is shown below: 
Goose Neck.. 
Sorghum. 
0 
a 
0) 
03 
03 
43 
£ 
o 
o 
African. 
Early Golden. 
Percentage of Juice.... 
60.3 
61.4 
SS.8 
57.5 
60.0 
Do. of Sua-nr In Juice_ 
8.58 
7.38 
6.50 
7.60 
14.(Mi 
Lbs.of ext'ble Sug.p.ton 
104 
89 
76 
87 
169 
For the "tody of the effect of fertilizers six¬ 
teen adjoining plots, of one-tenth acre each, 
were measured off, fertilized and planted May 
23, 1881, with Early Amber seed. The cane 
was doubtless injured by the unusually severe 
drought; it was noticeable, however, that it 
suffered much less from this than corn planted 
on a neighboring field. It was harvested on 
the first of October. 
For samples to represent each plot, twenty 
average canes were cut from ten different 
rows, immediately weighed and after they had 
been stripped aud topped, again weighed and 
passed singly between the rollers of a heavy 
cane-mill. The juice from each lot of twenty 
canes, after it had been carefully mixed, was 
used for the analysis. The determinations of 
cane sugar were made by means of the polar- 
iscope, using solutions clarified with basic 
lean acetate and fifty per cent absolute alco¬ 
hol. 
The plan of the experiment was—to ascer¬ 
tain the effect of each of the fertilizing mate¬ 
rials applied singly and in combination on the 
production of sugar—to compare the effect of 
muriate of potash with that of sulphate of 
potash, and to determine whether by increas¬ 
ing the amount of phosphoric acid used per 
acre an advantage would be gained. It was 
expected that phosphoric acid would mate¬ 
rially hasten the maturity of the cane; it 
appears to have exercised no decided influence 
in this respect. 
Muriate of potash used alone increases the 
gross weight of stalks much more thau sul¬ 
phate of potash; it increases, too, the j-ield of 
sugar per acre. It is a fact, however, of es¬ 
pecial importance to the manufacturer that 
the yield per ton is twenty per cent greater 
from the plot on which the sulphate was used, 
than from the muriate plot. Muriates, too, if 
taken into the sorghum juice, cannot be re¬ 
moved by the process of manufacture now 
used; and interfere seriously with the crys¬ 
tallization of sugar. 
As has been already well-known for many 
years past, crude barnyard manure must not 
be used directly on sugar-producing plants. 
No noticeable increase in the amount of sugar 
is caused by it; but a point of much greater 
importance js the positive statement of expe¬ 
rienced men that sugar will not crystallize 
from sirup of canes which have been fertilized 
with it. A heavy dressing on corn land loses 
its injurious qualities in the course of a year, 
and sorghum following corn in rotation is 
benefittedby it. 
From an interesting table, which we have 
no space for here, it appears that the plot fer¬ 
tilized with 150 lbs. of potassium chloride, 
costing at the rate of $3.40 per acre, produced 
the largest amount of sorghum, or at the rate 
of 16,000 lbs. per acre, aud also the largest 
number of pounds of juice extracted, viz., 
^*,269 per acre. The largest number of pounds 
of extractable sugar per acre was raised on a 
plot fertilized with 20 ( lbs. potassium sulphate, 
150 lbs. sodium nitrate, and 700 lbs. superphos¬ 
phate. From ton of cane the largest 
amount (103 lbs.) of sugar extracted was from 
the plot last mentioned. The largest amount 
of clear seed per acre was from a plot fertil¬ 
ized with 350 lbs. superphosphate. 
The result of the season’s experiments is 
decidedly encouraging, considering the unfa- 
y qt* ' circumstances, There had been a 
drought of unprecedented severity andlength; 
so that the corn crop on the College Farm was 
not more than one-quarter its usual amount. 
And yet the results of sorghum growing on 
the same farm, as given above, are respect¬ 
able. With a season having the average rain¬ 
fall a crop weighing from two to three times 
as much as that of the present one may safely 
be calculated on. 
The expense of hoeing and cultivating sor 
ghuin in the earlier stages of its growth are 
much greater than for field corn, and to those 
only accustomed to growing the latter crop it 
is discouraging. Tbe plants are very small 
when they first come up, and look so much 
like common Summer grasses, that they may 
be mistaken for them, and for several weeks 
the grasses and weeds grow much the fastest. 
The later stages of growth of the sorghum are 
very rapid. Those who intend to grow sor¬ 
ghum must then be very watchful of it in the 
early part of the season. It is most com¬ 
monly planted in drills from throe to three- 
and a-balf feetapart, with hills about fifteen to 
eighteen inches Bpart and having six or seven 
seeds to a hill. Some, however, plant it in 
hills with rows three feet apart both ways. 
Each method has its advocates, but the latter 
costs the least for labor, and advocates for the 
other method claim that it does not yield 
nearly as much per acre There is much to 
be learned in this respect by our farmers, and 
experiments should be made with care. 
The soil best adapted to it is said to be a 
sandy loam, though it will grow well on any 
ground that will produce Indian corn. It 
grows well on the same field year after year, 
only care being taken to keep the field rid of 
the seeds of weeds. A manure containing 
large per centages of sulphate of potash, a 
soluble phosphate of lime, and not much am¬ 
monia is probably the best aud most econom¬ 
ical for its growth. 
The value of the crop is considered to be 
mainly in tbe sugar, but the seed is found to 
he about equal to Indian corn in feeding 
value, and the crop per acre is not less than 
that of other common cereals There are no 
good feeding experiments to show what may 
be the value of stalks from which the juice 
has been extracted. 
Pitting Mangels and Beets. —Mr. Har¬ 
ris pits nearly all his mangels and beets in 
the field where grown, just as we do potatoes, 
except that it is not necessary to put on quite 
so much straw anil dirt. He selects, if possi¬ 
ble, a dry, sandy kaoll, plows out a pit three 
or four feet wide, and as long as desired. He 
twists or cuts off the leaves from tbe mangels, 
not too close, aud puts the roots iu the pit, 
packing them up or “ cording ” them so as to 
make the roof steep enough to shed raiu. And 
here-he tells us a Beeret. which had he known 
it years ago would have put much money in 
his pocket. It is to scatter a quantity of dry, 
light soil in among the beets in the pit, say 
enough to fill up the space between the beets, 
you will find that the beets do not get warm 
iu the pit, and will come out fresh and nice in 
the Spring. Do not be afraid to throw in a 
dozen good shovelfuls of soil to each cart load 
of beets. And before putting on a coat of straw 
he throws on a layer cf sandy soil all over 
the heap of beets an inch or two thick. He 
puts on a layer of straw about six inches 
thick, and then six inches of dirt, and this is 
all that is necessary till very cold weather, 
when he puts on another layer of straw or 
horse litter and covers it with dirt. In cover¬ 
ing the heaps with dirt, he plows round aud 
round the heap, throwing the dirt toward 
it. This greatly lessens tbe labor. 
No doubt the American cheese trade will 
be greatly injured by the extension of the 
adulteration from butter to cheese, says a 
writer in the Mark Lane Express of England. 
Lately he saw a gentleman purchasing a 
piece of cheese. He was shown some nice- 
looking “ American Cheddar,” but he would 
not have it at any price, as he said he was afraid 
to purchase any American cheese, lest he 
should get some of that adulterated with lard 
or oleomargarine. 
The “Cattle of the Period” in Amer¬ 
ica. —A Scotch gentleman at present in Amer¬ 
ica, writing to the North British Agricul¬ 
turist, complained of what he believed to have 
been some “crooked” bidding at a recent 
American sale of Short-horns, and says—‘We 
have had too much of this work in Short¬ 
horn business already. But the cattle of the 
period are the black polls. Everybody wants 
them, and they are paying fancy figures; but 
the flame will die out shortly.” The editor of 
the Agriculturist hardly thinks it will. 
A New Swindle. —Our esteemed contem¬ 
porary the Indiana Farmer says that a new 
and successful swindling game has recently 
been worked in various parts of the West, 
which has not hitherto come to our notice. 
The game opens by the appearance of a 
wealthy-looking old farmer in the locality, 
who is anxious to purchase a farm. After 
some negotiations a trade is made with some 
one who wants to sell at a good price for 
cash, and $50 are paid as earnest money until 
the purchaser can return to his home in an 
adjoining county and secure the rest of the 
money. Soon after another party comes 
along and is very much pleased with that par¬ 
ticular farm, and offers $1,000 advance on the 
price and urges the farmer to bay in the con¬ 
tract if possible. This he can manage to do 
for $500, though the first purchaser is very 
sorry to sell. Then the victim waits for the 
second purchaser with his $1,000 advance, but 
be is never more visible to the naked eye and 
the two sharpers are ahead $225 apiece. Tt is 
a very taking bait and always succeeds. Our 
readers should be on the lookout. 
C. Heller tells the Husbandman that he 
bought some seed barley one year from a 
farmer who supposed it was very clean, but 
he put the bai ley through the mill and got out 
of a few bushels four quarts of clean mustard 
seed, enough to have spread all over the 
ground where he used the barley. Tbit clean¬ 
ing protected the land, no mustard came with 
the barley. 
J. M. Vance states in the Indiana Farmer 
that the yield from his entire flock of 
Lincolnshire sheep— 48 head—will average 11 
pounds nine ounces per fleece. Tbe heaviest 
fleece weighed 18 pounds and was produced 
by a one-year-old ewe. 
Major Fre as of the Germantown Telegraph 
thoroughly sprinkled his currant bushes with 
water and dusted with coal ashes, and the 
result was all that could be desired, and far 
better than was anticipated. In fact, it acted 
like magic—the destroyer disappeared at once, 
and bis currant crop was saved in perfect con¬ 
dition. We are afraid the veteran Major is mis 
taken. We have tried sifted coal ashes 
thoroughly, and feel quite confident that they 
have no effect either to kill or drive the 
worms away. The currant worm leaves the 
bushes very suddenly, and we are prone to 
cedit whatever was last applied with his dis¬ 
appearance. 
SHORT AND FRESH. 
Delay hilling up celery until the plants are 
strong. Keep them growing. 
It is a good time to spread sifted coal ashes 
around currant hushes... 
A lady in Bridgeport, Conn., is suffering 
severely from poisonous effects of mosquito 
bites. Dwellers in New Jersey will be apt to 
receive this intelligence with a sad interest... 
Here is the last stanza of a poem in the 
Garden; 
Sweet are tbe Grapes that bloom by Rhine, 
Sweet are the eastern Date and Pine; 
Sweet are the Oranges that grow 
Where Guudalqulver’s waters flow; 
Sweet is the Apple—sweet the Pear, 
The blushing Peach—the Cherry fair; 
But bright and beauteous though they be— 
Give me, oh give, the Strawberry...". 
Mr. Peter Henderson at tbe last exhib¬ 
ition of the N. Y. Horticultural Society, took 
the first premium fgr the heaviest 50 straw¬ 
berries of any vaflfety with Jersey Queen, 
first illustrated iu the Rural New-Yorker 
Fair Number of last year. 
Hon. George Geddes concluded an address 
with these words.- “The wonderful modern 
increase of not only special but general knowl 
edge among farmers is gratifying beyond 
power of expression.”... 
The English Live Stock Journal points out 
many advantages in the use of moss for bed¬ 
ding horses.......... 
If we could only get along without paying 
our debts what a happy world this would be. 
It is a great pleasure to buy what you want 
and have it charged, but it is a fearful thing 
to live, as Byron says, 
Dreading the clfaiax of all human Ills, 
The inflammation of onr weekly blllR.—Herald. 
There is just this relationship between goose¬ 
berries and rhubarb in England—when the 
former come in the latter goes out. 
The apple and pear crops of England for 
the present season are doomed.. 
The Editor of the Rural Home cannot listen 
to the ordinary statements of new breeds, 
new inventions, etc., without a rising feeling 
of incredulity, which he is unable to suppress. 
Harvest over, dig out the muck if you 
have an available supply. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Arkansas. 
Altus, Franklin Co., July 14.—Arkansas 
is just beginning to feel the dread force of 
storms mid hurricanes, as our fathers used to 
call them. No terrible cyclone has vet passed 
through our beautiful land. In this part 
hills and mountains are so crossed and inter¬ 
woven, and rocky bights and precipices are so 
numerous that the violence of storm and wind 
is soon checked, and we have comparative ex¬ 
emption from the disasters of some of our sis¬ 
ter States. Yet on the evening of July 3 and 
the rooming of the 4th., Old Boreas gath¬ 
ered his forces and gave us premonitions of 
the possibility of damaging results by these 
gales, The first storm swept over a width of 
150 miles, doing considerable damage to the 
growing crops, tumbling some houses and 
breaking fruit trees. A peculiar feature and 
a subject for our seieutists was manifested in 
the first storm. There was but little rain and 
great balls of fire were seen flying through 
the air carried by the winds at a rapid rate, 
dissolving into darkness as they came in con¬ 
tact with terra firm a. Shrieks, screams and 
veils from women and children could be hoard 
in many instances above the roar of the tem¬ 
pest. Our corn crop is now made, and it is 
the largest ever grown in the State. Timber 
is burdened with acorns. Pasture in woods 
excellent. Wheat has proved 25 per cent, 
above an average, and the cotton promises an 
average yield. All other crops perfect, We 
are happy. We have fat scrub cattle and 
hogs, as well as bright-faced merchants and 
merry farmers. c. B. G. 
Potf.au, Scott Co.. July 15.—The recent 
warm, dry weather has improved the pros¬ 
pects for cotton very materially. Cotton has 
heretofore been the principal crop, hut 
farmers are beginning to find that it costs as 
much to raise it and get, it in shape for market 
as it can be sold for, consequently they are 
turning their attention more tn grain and 
grasses. Corn is the most profitable grain 
crop that can be raised here, On the bottom 
lands, with ordinary cultivation, from 50 to 
75 bushels per acre can be raised, at. a cost not 
exceeding 10 cents per bushel, and it is gen¬ 
erally ready sale Bt 50 cents per bushel. 
Owing to the overflows and continuous wet 
weather the past Spring, corn on the bottom 
lands is somewhat later than usual; but if 
the season continues favorable there will be a 
good crop. There will be a large area sown 
in wheat this Fall. What we planted last 
Fall did well, and is, indeed, tbe “stuff of 
life,” for without it there would have been 
no bread, as there was scarcely corn enough 
to last till wheat was harvested. At the 
present writing, notwithstanding the over¬ 
flows and the cold, wet weal her in the Spring, 
the season bids fair to be one of general 
plenty. H. c. b. 
Illinois. 
Danvers, McLean County July 10.—Farm¬ 
ers are now in the midst of tlio rye and wheat 
harvest. Rye is not coming up to the expecta¬ 
tions of three weeks ago; the excessive rains 
or some other unknown cause has cut the crop 
short in comparison with the prospect three 
weeks ago. Winter wheat is good and the 
prospect for oats is still excellent. They 
seem to be heading nicely and look well. The 
hay crop certainly will be excellent. Pas¬ 
tures are fine. The prospect is still very good 
fora fine crop of potatoes—early potatoes are 
large enough for table use and the crop will 
soon be matured. The corn crop is looked at 
with more interest than all others combined, 
and the outlook at tbe present is not as favor¬ 
able as could be desired. Yet on high and 
drained lands it looks well. True, it is not as 
large as it usually is at this time, yet from 
present appearances if the latter part of the 
the season i6 favorable some of it will make 
a fair crop. 1 think fully one-half the acre¬ 
age will doso; while one-fourth the acreage 
will make but little and the other fourth is 
past redemption. Reports in regard to the 
apple crop are not as favorable as they were 
one month ago. Some think the crop will be 
very small. In spite of all the discourage¬ 
ments of the season, we certainly will have 
plenty to carry us through—therefore we 
should be glad, thankful and happy, p. w. B. 
Mlchlgaii. 
Grand Rapids, Kent Co., July 17.—I have 
been about our State a good deal this past 
week, and find the Winter wheat crop a mag¬ 
nificent one. Never have I seen in Michigan 
such a growth of straw; but corn is “knee- 
high to a woodchuck” with cold nights, and 
little added to its Btature from day to day. 
Apples are falling badly, and peaches are 
promising above two-tbirds of a crop. My 
Gregg Raspberries are just turning—the first 
of the variety I have fruited—and now I am 
prepared to believe any story about the size 
and productiveness of this variety, o. w. G. 
Missouri. 
Mount Pleasant, Miller Co., July 11.— 
Wheat is all cut; but the weather has been so 
wet that but little has been stacked. Farmers 
are busy cutting oats. Corn is growing 
nicely although it is a little backward. In 
some places the chinch bugs are doing a little 
damage, but the weather has been so very 
favorable for com growing that the damage 
