A NEW INDUSTRY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 532, 19 August 1881, Page 2

A NEW INDUSTRY.

Tho New Zealrtul Herald reports:— " We have received from Mr John Thompson, farmer, Stoney Creek, Opotiki, a sample of syrup made by him from common sorghum, grown upon his farm thia season. He states that he extracted 6£ pints of juice, and boiled this down to 1£ pints. The syrup is well tasted, and has been reduced to the consistency of treacle, as it is retailed by the grocers, He asks us to ascertain from grocers in town the value of the syrup. It is useless to do this, because in its present condition it is very unlikely any one would be found willing to purchase it, even if it was available in quantity. Mr Thompson lias evidently shown neglect to bis syrup in its preparation. Just before it comes to tho boil a large quantity of troth and sediment is thrown up, which should be carefully skimmed off as it rises, until it boils pure, without more of the matter rising. It seems that the ekimmingof this refuse has been neglected, and it has become mixed with the Byrup as it gradually thickened. In the small vessel containing the .sample sent to us, this sediment has sunk to tho bottom, and for some distance near the bottom the syrup is quite cloudy and dirty looking. With this effect removed, there should be no difficulty in disposing of really good syrup of equal flavor with that we have received and freed from all impurities. It should bo remembered, however, that crystallised sugar has never yet been produced in quantity and regularity from the juice of the common sorghum, but the granulation of the juice of well-ripened maize stalks appears to always yield more or less sugar. When tho seed of the early amber variety of sorghum is obtainable in small quantities in the colony, the experiments for sugar making should'be confined to this and other proved varieties, or to different kind of maize stalks. As previously stated Mr J. C. Firth is likely to mako an experiment during tho coming season on his estate at Matamata, and Mr Justice Gillies will repeat his experiment at Epsom"