SORGHUM CULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5917, 3 November 1880, Page 3

SORGHUM CULTURE.

Sorghum (from the Indian name Sorghi) is a very ancient plant, and has long been grown in Africa and Asia. With the exception of the true sugar-cane, it contains more saccharine properties than any other plant— one of the reasons why it has been cultivated in the countries mentioned. The werd sorghum is used for a variety of plants, each of which may have more than one synonym. There is Sorghum vutgare (Indian millet), known as Dhurra in the north of Africa, Jovaree in India, and Nagara in the north of China. This grain forms the staff of life in extensive districts both in India and Africa. Broom corn (Sorghum saccJiaralum) is another variety, the panicles being used for brooms and the seeds for poultry or pigs. But the plant that is most rich in saccharine matter, and from which the largest amount cf nutritive fodder can be obtained, is the Chinese sugar-cane, or Sorgho Sucre (Sorghum nigrum saccharinum). According to the richness of the soil and the manner of cultivation, this plant will grow to a height of from six to twelve feet or more, in its early growth resembling corn; and, when full grown, having the appearance of broomcorn. It flowers in a panicle at the top, and the seeds, when fully ripe, are of a purplish colour.

Sorghum has been crown in these colonies, especially in Australia, for a great many years. It has been cultivated almost exclusively for fodder for stock; and for that purpose it cannot be too highly spoken of. Its fattening and milk-producing qualities are extraordinary. It has been stated that a lean horse fed on it comes into condition like magic, and that its effects are equally apparent on cattle and pigs. A chief advantage in growing sorghum is having plenty of food for stock when grass may be all dried up. The growth it makes, once it takes a start, and although the weather may be hot and dry, is something surprising. Better than a year ago, in New South Wales, it was asserted that cattle had been poisoned by eating sorghum. The following letter to one of the papers was the result: —" Sir, —I observed in your last week's issue that some persons have stated that sorghum lias poisoned their stock, which I think quite erroneous, inasmuch as I have been using it for the last twenty-five years, more or less, and I can safely say that not one case of poisoning has ever come under my notice, nor have I seen the slightest ill eiFeets from it on either cattle or horses. I feed very extensively every year. I have a fine crop this year, notwithstanding the drought, stalks measuring 12 feet in height. I consider it second to none as fodder for any stock, botli as a green fodder .and to dry the same as hay for winter food. I may mention that my father was also a great advocate, for sorghum; I have known him to feed as many as 40 to 50 head of cattle, mostly milkers, producing the best and richest of cream aud butter, ana my father was one of the oldest of the native fanners in the colonies. This, I should presume, would be a sufficient guarantee to any person wishing to cultivate the same. I have simply sent you this in order to prevent people from being misled, as I think it a great pity so valuable a fodder should be condemned.—lam, &c, B. H. Ezzv."

It is pretty well known how extensively sorghum lias been grown in the United States by farmers and others. Nearly twenty years ago, in his celebrated "Papers," published in the American Agriculturist, Tim Bunker wrote about this plant in the following style:—"lt is a settled fact that ive have a sugar-mill, where they are going to make molasses this fall, and where they may make sugar by and by The result of the winter's work are that we have a wonderful increase of sorghum in all this region. A patch may bo found on all the best farms, and on some of the poor ones, and even in the gardens of the mechanics. A quarter of an acre of sorghum will make a barrel of syrup, if it only does moderately well. We shall not have syrup enough to supply the town perhaps, but we shall give the business a good start, and wake up the sleepers. I should not think it strange if we became exporters of syrup in a few years, and Connecticut syrup may stand high in the market. The mill is all up, and the machinery in, and they will be ready to grind as soon as the cane is fit. Ido not see any reason why New England should not raise its own molasses. We have plenty of unoccupied land, and capital to invest in the crop, and in mills to manufacture it. All that is needed is a few individuals in each town to take the matter up, and show how it can be done. There must be concert of action, and then the whole business will go easy. The sorghum is coming into favour much more rapidly than the potato did, and it would not be strange if it wrought as great changes in our husbandry In the West they were raising two hundred or three hundred gallons of syrup to the acre, and clearing over a hundred dollars above working expenses. Last year the crop was was worth several millions of dollars, and the business was rapidly increasing wherever they had learned to make the syrup. . . It would pay to raise it for fodder for cattle and hogs ate it greedily, and would thrive upon it wonderfully well." Since Tim Bunker wrote, sorghum has become a most important plant in many of the American States. Where it .".i grown to perfection, the syrup, properly manufactured, is mild, rich, and dcliciously sweet, and much superior to the common West Indian molasses for puddings, cakes, or dishes where sweetness may be required. So far as the making of syrup is concerned, the process of grinding and evaporation is simple. Allen, in his " Farm Book," says:—" Mills madeof iron and driven by cither horse, steam, or water power, are extensively made for the purpose of crushing, while boilers or evaporators, specially made for that object, and attached to complete the operation, from which the finished article is drawn orr and barrelled for consumption. The mills are of various capacity, suited to the amount of cane grown in their immediate vicinity, accommodating many dill'erent growers of the cane, and in such way only is the syrup made really profitable Its manufacture into

sugar has not, as yet, been particularly successful, although further trials may, it is hoped, result in eminent success. Should it so result, an untold source of wealth and luxury may be found in wide portions of the country now dependent on other countries and climates, which draw oil' no small amount of the avails of other portions of our industry."

That sorghum contains a largo percentage of sugar is proved by the avidity with which, when they get the chance, young New Zealandeis suck the cane at a certain stage of its growth. However, until machinery is introduced that will grind the cane, extract the juice, and render it fit for domestic purposes, it is of little or no use cultivating sorghum for that purpose. That was done years ago in Queensland. A rumour got afloat that sugar could be made from it, and that there were parties who would buy the cane if it was grown. But after a good many acres had been grown there were found no buyers for the raw material. For fodder it is a perfectly safe crop to grow, and one that ought to be cultivated, particularly by dairy-farmers, though some are of opinion that it is apt to put too much llesh on the cows. It is easy to grow, and is as hardy and productive as any other fodder plant.

For sorghum the soil needs to be rich, though not heavy. Haring roots that go deep and are wide spreading, soil should be warm, free, and good. It will not do on cold, wet land. Good maize land will suit sorghum. After the land is properly prepared, some sow the seed broadcast; but I think it is far better to sow it in drills ' which can be done either by plochin" it in or making drills for the purpose, Vhieh should be about three feet apart. Ten to a dozen pounds of seed to the acre is the quantity, if in rows ; a larger quantity would be needed for broadcasting. When grown for seed, of course, plants can be thinned out, so as to leave about a foot between them. Whether for seed or fodder, it is well to work among the growing crop, so as to loosen the soil and keep down weeds. It is said that "lime, ashes, salt, guano, ami the phosphates generally are excellent manures, giving a medium growth to the stalk, and promoting the development of the saccharine juice in a higher degree than the more stimulating humus of the heavier fertilisers." The crop would take four or hve months to ripen the seed. Ihiring November is a good time for sowing. After the appearance of the young plants, for a while they look miserable; but as the weather gets warmer they take a start, and grow rapidly. The time to cut it is when the seeds begin to form. The green stuff is easily cured by stacking it after it has become dry, and it is asserted that stock eat it dry as greedily as they do when it is green. The seed yields about thirty bushels to the acre. Agricola.