Sorghum for Sugar.

Patea Mail, 21 January 1882, Page 3

Sorghum for Sugar.

The A. and P, News reports good results from the experimental distribution of seed by Government to various parts of the colony. In Auckland both the early and late sowings have produced vigorous plants. At Opotiki the crop is coming on well. The Farmers’ Club at Opotiki is so well satisfied that sorghum growing will prove a suitable industry for that locality, as to have been induced to order a crushing mill and evaporating machinery from America. The Poverty Bay district has proved admirably adapted for growing sorghum. At Nelson the seed is coming up successfully, the plants from late sowings being strongest. GROWING CROPS. It is hoped the necessity for thorough weeding will not be over-looked by cultivators of sorghum, as the quantity of sugar which the plant produces has been found to depend greatly on its rapid growth in the early season, and that nothing retards this so much as the choking of the plants by weeds which not only compete with the plants for the nourishment in the soil, but moreover by warding off the sun’s rays prevent the lower part of the stem of the cane becoming hardened and performing its functions as a feeder of sap to the rapidly expanding foliage of its upper portions. In growing ordinary sorghum for forage purposes this precauti on is less . necessary, but it is imperatively required if the cane is to perform those elaborate chexnico-vital processes by ; which the sap becomes first; loaded with glucose or syrup, and which is then converted into surcrose or crystalizahle sugar. . HARVESTING. The period of the growth of the,plant for harvesting the canes so as to secure the largest yield of crystalizable sugar in different parts of New; Zealand, is the chief object of the experiments at present in progress. So far it has been found that early cuttings are preferable where there is intense heat late in the season, as that is liable to convert the sugar back into syrup. In America the cane yields most sugar when cut while the seed is in the “ dough” stale. Although Jn large operations and with sufficiently powerful crushing mills, it is not necessary to strip the leaves yet for experimental purposes, as these do not contain valuable juice, but rather tend to absorb and retain the juice from the cane daring a feeble crushing process, it is better to take this extra trouble in harvesting. The butts for six or eight inches from the ground, and the tops for eighteen to twenty-four inches, should also be removed. All the cuttings make excellent fodder. For storage the cane must be piled so as to dry with free ventilation and protection from the sun. The proper treatment of the canes during this stage makes as much as seven to ten per cent, difference in the amount of sugar produced.