,158                T ME     W. I 1QOOv.S-L( S TNFA         RV bIURi.

    NEWS' SU-MM                A RY.            Threportwas adoptd, asahso
thefeitow-
                                                'igresolutioa, offered by
J. C. Plumbh:
        S T A T. hM .T TE. S.                  Re-hed, Tha lbr gCeeredteuanquoavmswe
                                              require, at least, two yarteties
of cane, for early ad lte
                                              Planting, to SrOum ed earls
and June for
  The Sorghum     Convention, a call for that we most rely mainly on the
early varlqties with imall1
                                              ie.:toh  tot -IC " agw
inWiddusia, kid the



wn1cn was puLIsned in lhe rebruary No. o
the FARMEa, met in the basement of the Capi
itol, on Wednesday, the 4th of March.
  The number of persons in Attendance, a
first only about 20, afterwards increased tc
some 40- a very small number, certainly, it
view of the important interests to be consider
ed, and of the large number of urgent appeals
for such a convention from different parts o0
the State.  Illinois was almost better repre-
sented than Wisconsin, and there wore, like.
wise, a few gentlemen from lowa.



  The few who did convene were zealous work-
ers, however, And, under the fitting presidency
of Mr. 0. S. Willey. sti 'em-,.l in accomplish-
ing a good deal in the way of a 4iscussion of
the questions of Soil, Seed, (/ultivation, Man-
ufacture and Machinery.     Some interesting
examples of machinery &c were on exhibition.
  We regret that the proceedings could not
have been furnished us in time for publication
in full, in this No., eepecislly since circumstan-
ces prevented a regular attendance on our part.
As it is, we shall content ourself with report-
ing the pith of whst was said on Soil and Seed,
leaving the publication of that portion which
may be deferred without damage to the May
humber.
          iZ oRT OF COKITTUZ 05 SKUD.
 The Committe to whom was refermed the ngbj~et of wed
 isk leave to report
 That we reoognize bht two speces, the Chtnese ad the
 Afrcan. There me, however, of the Aftria or Impbee
 seural mubdivtsioue or varietlseoms ay as hblb as «si.
 teen-amoog whicb tbe Bo  enad    omse--a a
sai by practica men to be prefbrablb for the production of
Ml Chinese _mkt a ery light cobared, headsome sprap.
The reaOn *ll4Dled for this diface of production is tha
In the Chinese variety, or Borghum, grape sugar predoml-
naim ever the ce sugar, Adtat Us rnevas le the eas
w      dh mof the Abusa or Lmple varitio.
You omemicee amre of the epinlon thab mne varistio of
either species may be mahLred sadckatly for the manras-
turn of syrp, and In soms ases sugar, to any region where
Indian eon will matre.
The well ripsed specimens before us of sorghum and
and the several variaties of lpbee, from some of whih
augr Maa beserbadl  a*ld bs Ca i tlonis suiartaeile
proo  od  lb a zit 4 t eo tb e cl ae of  Wlsroen.
The cme vagat isall that sUI ee retabd tn thesc -
           & e s o iucq   ray  s s u sua   sutlleo 9s



Nort generally.
  Touching the above report we have only to
say, in this connection, that we cannot entirely
credit the authority cited by tjae committee as
to the crystalizability of the syrup of Sorghum
or Chinese sugar cane.  Ip the first place, the
statement beats ttie stamp of improbability,
and, secondly, the actual errerimental tests
made by chemists, such as Mr. J. 8. Lovering,
of Philadelphia, and Dr. C. A. Goessmann, ot
Syracuse, show conclusively that the Chinese
sugar cane does contain cane sugar-Mr. Lov-



ering baving obtained it therefrom in large
proportion.
  The " Oom-se-a na " may be the best variety
In the world, or It may be a humbug. For our
own part it would be easier to believe, were it
not that those who recommend it so warmly
have quantities of the seed to sell at extrava-
gant prices.
  Situation rnd Soil.-A majority reoomsmended
a high situation, not subject to frosts, and a
warm, sandy soil; though all agreed that in a
reasonably good season it will succeed upon
any soil fit for Indian coro.
  The Preparation of Soil should be as thor-
ough as possible. Newly plowing and harrow-
ing or rolling down smooth just before plant-
ing will more than pay for the extra labor.
  The Planting must not be done too early-
ordinarily nct before about the 20th of May.
Plant in the same manner as corn-either in
hills 3 to 4 feet apart, or! in drUls; the rows
being 8 to 4 feet apart and the seed-droppings
1 to 2 feet in the row.  Plant about twice as
much seed aayou wish to sand.
Some were in favor of meaking the seed, oth-
ers of planting dry. Probably the advantage
of soaking and sprouting would depend large-
ly on the latenesa of the season. Seed should
ie covered lIpn1.balf an Si nc deep is suffi-'
4ne4   !   '               I ,
All agreed thtit the 'ohinoh bug 9J a trouble-



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