r 
FEB.18 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE 
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
(Concluded from last week.) 
The sugar thus obtained was very greatly 
improved in appearance by the addition of 
flve or ten per cent, of water, and stirring it 
into a mush, and again subjecting the mass 
to pressure, by which operation the adher¬ 
ing molasses was almost entirely removed, 
and the sugar obtained was, in the case of 
sorghum, nearly white, while in the case of 
com it was of a rich golden yellow. I may 
add that in no case, either with corn or 
sorghum, did I fail to obtain satisfactory re¬ 
sults in the way of crystallization, although, of 
course, the molasses still contains a very large 
percentage of crystallizable sugar, which will, 
at least, in great part, be obtained by further 
concentration. . . . 
The point which these experiments have 
fully settled is, that there exists no difficulty in 
makiug from either corn or 6orghum a first- 
rate quality of sugar, which will compare fa¬ 
vorably with the best product from sugar-cane 
grown in the most favorable localities. 
After a few minutes the Bediment from the 
juice subsided, ami by means of a syphon the 
clear liquid was decanted off, leaving a muddy 
sediment which was equal to about one-tenth 
to one-twentieth of the. bulk of the juice. This 
muddy sediment, was then drawn off by means 
of a stop-cock, and filtered through a plaited- 
bag filter, and the clear filtrate therefrom was 
added to the liquid previously syphoned off. 
The clarified juice which, during the above 
operation, i6 not allowed to cool below a tem¬ 
perature of 66 deg. Centigrade, or 150 deg. 
Fahrenheit, was now emptied into the evap¬ 
orating pan, and there was added to it, with 
stirring, a solution of sulphurous acid iu water, 
until the lime present was neutralized, as was 
shown by the reddening of litmus paper when 
it was dipped in the juice. The evaporation 
was now hastened as much as possible, and the 
juice concentrated to a sirup at a boiling-point 
of 106 deg. Centigrade, equal to 226 deg. Fahr¬ 
enheit, Or thereabout. . . . 
On account of the trouble in stripping the 
stalks, experiments were made with stalks un¬ 
stripped, the tops alone being removed, and 
these experiments appear to prove that this 
troublesome operation of stripping may be 
avoided without any diminution of the amount 
of juice or of sugar obtained therefrom. 
Below are the results obtained from stripped 
and unstripped sorghum, calculated to the raw 
stalks used. 
By raw stalks is meant the stalks as they 
were cut in the field, leaves, top6, and all. 
The character of the maize and sorghum 
operated upon still remains for consideration. 
As has been already stated, the maize-stalks 
had been stripped of their ears three or four 
weeks before they were cut for the mill. It 
is much to be desired, and is contemplated in 
the further experiments, to determine whether 
this wa8 the time tvhen their content of sugar 
was at the maximum. It is by no means im¬ 
probable had they been cut when the grain 
had begun to form, and was still in its 
milky state, that the product of 6ugar would 
have been greater. At least further experi¬ 
ments are needed to learn at what time the 
stalk may be most profitable as a 
sugar-producing plant. 
The experiment with millet, already 
mentioned, gave very interesting 
results, and it promises to be a new 
sugar-producing plant of considera¬ 
ble value. ... By the treat¬ 
ment of this juice by the process 
already described, 24J pounds of 
juice yielded 2£ pounds of sirup, 
which speedily crystallized, yield- 
iug an excellent sugar, which polar¬ 
ized 9'2o. 
An experiment was also made 
with a small lot of sugar-beets, re¬ 
ceived from F. D. Curtis, of Charl¬ 
ton, Saratoga County, New York, 
the object being to learn whether 
the process for the preparation 
of sugar from corn and sorghum, 
as above described, was applicable 
to beets; 14.5 pounds of sugar-beets 
were ground up, and 7.8? pounds of 
juice were expressed, having a 
specific gravity of 1080. This juice 
yielded a simp which crystallized readily 
within twelve hours, and yielded .61 pound 
of sugar, which polarized 91°.7. and .58 pounds 
of sirnp, from which an additional quantity 
of sugar may be doubtless obtained. 
8ilk Culture.— Last spring, through the 
courtesy of Mr. Long Tsuda, a valued corre¬ 
spondent in Japan, the department was pre¬ 
sented with a few cards of the eggs of a kind 
of silk-worm known as the Tana Gawa. a val¬ 
uable race, producing a small white con¬ 
stricted cocoon, The worms were fed on three 
different species of Maclwa, or Osage Orange, 
and on eight different species of Mulberry, as 
well as on some other allied plants, by way of 
experiment. Another race that has been fed 
for the last eight years on Osage Orange by 
Professor Riley was also grown. A purt of the 
<$or SSlomra. 
OONDJOTED BY MISS FAITH RIPLEY- 
CREWEL WORK. 
“ Crewel” is a loosely twisted yam or worsted, 
manufactured In all shades and colors. It is sold 
In two sizes, tine and coarse. The coarser make Is 
Average 
per cent, 
of Juice 
to raw 
stalks. 
A verage 
per cent 
sirup in 
juice. 
Stripped sorghum (Nos. 6 and 6) — 
Unstripped Borghum (Nos. 7 to 11, 
inclusive). 
36.03 
16.00 
40.60 
15.47 
No. 1 — Medallion 
silk from these worms has been reeled In this 
country by Mr. L. S. Crozier, of SiikvUle, 
Franklin County, Kansas, and proves to he of 
the very first qiiallty. But the most Interest¬ 
ing fact in connection with these experiments 
is that the silk produced from thu Osage- 
orange race, whicn was originally a cross be¬ 
tween the best French and Japanese worms, 
actually proved superior in onantity and equal 
in quality to that fed on Mulberry. . . . 
There can be no question as to the adaptation 
of the larger part, of our country to the silk 
culture, or of our ability to grow the worms 
successfully. Experience has established those 
two facts, as it. has the superior quality of Amer¬ 
ican-grown 6ilk. It is not so necessary t.o urge 
the cultivation of the Mulberry as it is to es¬ 
tablish first, a market for the cocoons. In 
some parts of the South the best of white mul¬ 
berries are already grown in large orchards, 
for the sake of the fruit, which is deemed most 
valuable food for hogs, and In case the Mul¬ 
berry trees already grown should at any time 
be cut off by mildew and disease, as they were 
at the close of the Multieaulis fever iu 1839 and 
1840, we have the advantage over Europe and 
other countries in being able to fall back upon 
the. Maclura, which proves, when judiciously 
fed, to he as good as Mulberry. 
Tobacco Cdluhe.— The tobacco crop does 
not promise so large a yield this year as last, 
but tho quality is much superior. Later re¬ 
turns arc necessary before any estimate of the 
quantity can be made. . - - The following 
table presents the number of persons engaged 
in the different occupations in the United States 
at the last enumeration: 
1870 (census). 
Population. 
Total over 10 years.i 28,228,945'.I 34,000,000 . 
Males in all occupations ! 12,505,923 . 15,000,000 . 
Agriculture.I 5,922,471 47.35 ' 7,600,000 ' 50.66 
Manufacturing and min -1 
in*. 2,707,421, 21.65 2,900,000] 19.33 
Professional and person¬ 
al.,1 2,648,793 21.47 3,000,000 ! 20.00 
Trade, commerce and 
transportation.; 1,191,238 9.62| l,500,00ol 10.00 
The agricultural interest being valued at 88 
per cent, of all others combined, the value of 
farms and property is $11,124,959,087. 
Value of farms, 1870.$9,262,803,861 
is Crewel Work. 
that In most, general use. The foundations usually 
employed for Crewel Work are unbleached linen— 
that known as Bolton sheeting Is the material 
generally used for doyleys, toilet sets, chair-backs 
and one yard square table-covers. It Is Inexpen¬ 
sive. There are other materials which are em¬ 
ployed for.foundatlons of Crewel Work for various 
purposes, such as satln-dechtne, twllled-sllk, broc- 
catlne, burlaps and crash, linen, serge, diagonal 
cloth, gray and blue felt, flannel and Holland, 
••crash” Is the name of the gray linen, now so much 
used for crewel Work. Rouud toweling may also 
be used. Crewels, are the only kind of worsted 
used for this artistic embroidery. They are made 
with only two plies, and then a loose twist caus¬ 
ing them In working to form lines, which may be 
compared to the lines In fine engravings. In color, 
too they may be billliant without being harsh. 
The embroidery silks are floss (coarse and line) 
Dacca, Mttorse, silks and Filoselle, which latter is 
very durable, and far easier to work than floss, 
and also cheaper than silk. Gold and silver threads 
are also used. The needles used are ordinary 
round-eyed, and the long-eyed embroidery needles, 
the latter are used tor Crewels and floss silks, 
and the former for twisted silks and cords and 
tor gold and sliver threads. Always choose a 
needle large enough. If you have to tug a needle 
through the material It Is evident It Is too small, 
and should be rejected, always select the best 
needles. Thimbles that have been worn smooth 
are the best, as they are not so likely to Injure 
and catch the loosely twisted threads, a stiletto 
win be required to make holes for taking thick 
edging cords through the stuff. 
To fringe doyleys, etc., cut a square of linen 
the depth of the fringe from each corner, and 
draw the threads out from four sides to the 
required depth. Take a needleful ot Crewel (the 
skein for this purpose should be cut. only once). 
Put the end of the Crewel to the edge of 
the frayed-out fringe. Then put your needle 
downward through the edge of the pattern 
about an eighth of an Inch above the drawn 
threads. Now place the needle as close as possible 
to the. left of where It. was last Inserted, pass the 
Crewel under the point of the needle from left to 
right, hold the crewel firmly between the thumb 
and forefinger of the left, hand until you have 
drawn up the stitch as you would a but ton-hole 
stitch, carry the Crewel on from space to space, 
and cut the fringe when you have finished sewing 
f It had been ironed. In washing Crewel Work, 
make, a lather of fine soap, and rub the article to 
be washed In It. Do not put a particle of soap on 
the work. Rinse In warm water and squeeze; do 
not, wring. Shake well and stretch till dry;; as 
directed for new work. 
Crewel Work designs stamped on white or ecru 
linen ready for working, can be purchased at the 
following rates. Scrap bags, 3 for SI.<5; single pat¬ 
tern, 45c.; school bags, at same rates. Wall pock¬ 
ets (with two pockets), 3 for $1.75; single pattern, 
60c. Toilet sets, s for $1.25; single pattern, 45c. 
Tidies for chair backs or swats, 3 for $l.oo; single 
pattern, 37c. Sofa cushions, 3 for Ji.fln, single pat¬ 
tern, 37c; chair stripes, larger size $2.50 and small- 
ler size $1.50 for 3; single patterns In larger size 
95c., In smaller, 55c. 
The instructions given above, taken in conjunc¬ 
tion with Miss Harvey’s article on Crewel Work, 
published In Rural ot December 14, contain most 
that there 13 to be said about this style of artistic 
embroidery; but If any ladles want further Infor¬ 
mation, I shall very gladly furnish It to them. 
Please address all letters relating to fancy work 
and fashions to Faith Ripley, care of Rural New- 
Yorker. 
Description of Cuts. 
At A and B are shown methods of working the 
crewel-stitch. The length of each stitch must 
be left to the taste and judgment of the worker, 
who can make them suitable to the coarseness or 
fineness of the material to be worked on, making 
also due allowance for the abruptness of the 
curves. A closer stitch and move solid work are 
required for articles that are Intended for use 
rather than tor mere ornamentation. For Instance, 
the stitches In this case should he evenly and 
smoothly made, and should resemble the woot of 
satin. In working, the. out Hup is to be covered 
first; and In such work as the stalk of a flower, 
begin from the lower end first, and work on until 
it Is crossed by a leaf or ends In a flower, then pass 
the needle to the other side and work downwards 
then make another line of stitches Inside the out¬ 
line until the stalk Is fllled up. see B. 
In more elaborate Crewel-Work designs the satin 
stitch may be used. The stitch is made In passing 
the silk from one outline to another. A piercer 
comes In useful here for keeping the stitches even 
and smooth. When Id Is desirable to raise any 
portions of the work, It may he done with cotton 
and silk taken over It. See J ,K. L. 
No. 1. — Medallion in Crewel Work. The 
ground-work Is unbleached lluen. The design, 
which consists of lilies and blue corn-flowers, may 
be worked in their natural colors, and will serve 
for ornameDting table covers, drapes, for baskets, 
toilet sets, etc. 
No. 2.—Design in Embroidery. This design 
may be worked In crewel or silk, in their natural 
colors, or iu several shades of one color as pre¬ 
ferred, It can be used for sachets, bags, book 
covers, chairs, etc. 
No. 3,— Emrkoidered h tripe. The foundation 
may be cloth, velvet , crash or linen worked In silk 
or crewel. The work Is in the natural colors of the 
flowers and foliage. The stripe can be used for 
ottomans, chair backs, etc. 
Nos. 4 and s. These little sprays are pretty for 
ornamenting pin-cushions, toilet-cushions, etc. 
They may be worked in crewel, embroidery cotton, 
or silk, according to the material to be ornamented. 
MISS HARVEY’S REPLY TO THE CRITICS. 
Dear Miss Ripley I find I am being criticised, 
but I believe unjustly. One of your correspond¬ 
ents has lately taken me to task for saying that I do 
not believe In the woman who does not know how 
to sew. Perhaps I will be Indulged if I teU roJiy I 
don’t. It Is because I think every true woman will 
instinctively seek first, of all to perform the duties 
nearest at hand, acquiring the lowlier arts In com¬ 
mon with all her sisters oefore rising beyond them. 
I know I should he ashamed to sit down to paint, 
or embroider or play the piano. If I did not under¬ 
stand how to make a garment, dust a room, or get 
a meal as well as most women do. 
Again, some one finds fault with my saying that 
every lady ought to have a black silk dress always 
available, adding, as though giving me a sugges¬ 
tion, that purchasing one Is a bad In¬ 
vestment, unless one has another 
dress to save It. 1 do not remember 
remarking that the young lady de¬ 
scribed hadn't a single suit to her 
back until she got the silk, and I do 
remember saying that she soon after 
bought a cashmere, trimming it with 
pieces left from the better material. 
If she wore, the less costly dress at 
all, wearing it must certainly have 
saved the other. I think 1 also Inti¬ 
mated that she had a serviceable Oe 
t)cye for every day use. I am sorry I 
cannot always make myself under¬ 
stood. Very truly, 
Makgakkt B. Harvey. 
No. 2 —Design inJEmbkoiDIERY. 
Value of farm animals, 1870. 
Value of farm implements, 1870.... 33b,878,428 
Total..,,.. $11,134,959,037 
The increase of population over 10 years was 
somewhat above 21 per cent. At tho same rate 
of increase of values of farms and farm pro¬ 
ducts for 1878 would be as follows . 
Value of farms, 1878. 
Value of farm animals. 1878. 1.645.584.863 
Value of farm Implements, 1878. 407,622,899 
Total...$13,461,300,«8 
In the loops. When Crewel work Is finished It will be 
found that It has become much drawn and puckered. 
To remedy this, a cleiip cloth must be tightly 
stretched and pinned upon a drawing board ordeal 
table, upon which the work must bepluced face 
dow n ward, stretched and pinned its tightly as possi¬ 
ble. A wet sponge should then be passed over It till 
every part Is made damp, especially that which Is 
most puckered. When It has become dry again it 
may be taken up, and then It will be as smooth as 
PRICE OF PHANTOM WORK. 
1 am sorry I cannot give, In reply to 
the inquiry of Mrs. Post, a satisfac¬ 
tory answer. 
The value of phantom work depends 
altogether upon the quality and the 
market. In the cities such artistic 
tlcl-blts occasionally command high 
rates, but the. present over-supply of fancy produc¬ 
tions and fancy workers must, materially, affect 
market values. 
A rern-leaf faultlessly wrought and of medium 
size would probably sell for nrty cents. There 
was a time, not long since, when it. would have 
brought four times tne amount. 
Rose Geranium. 
A large design In Crewel work will be published 
next week. It was crowded out of this issue. 
