THE OPOTIKI SORGHUM WORKS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1524, 11 April 1882, Page 3

THE OPOTIKI SORGHUM WORKS.

The following account of a visit to the sorghum mill at Opotiki, is from the pen of the travelling correspondent of the Bay of Plenty Timea— Will sorghum pay better than beet root for the production of sugar by not very large works or by private industry? is the question to be tested here on a small scale,' and become a source of trade and profit to the place generally, and Mr Dumergue and the Farmers' Club are setting themselves to solve the problem with systematic activity. They are pretty well assured by practical proof that the land here will grow about 20 tons to the acre of the best sorghum cane, and in the United States it has been worked very largely by small producers, and shown to be more profitable than beet root. The Opotiki experiment is to be commenced with one of the Victor cane mills, of which 22,000 have been already sold in the States. It is of onehorse power, but is a very solid substantial little piece of machinery, with great pressing force in its iron rollers, and works cleanly without losing power, and will turn out from 50 to 70 gallons of juice per hour. Ihe seed of the plant is good feed for stock, and the. refuse after pressing is wonderfully fattening for pigs. An alluvial soil with a gravelly bottom, such as is to be found in some parts of this district, with the moist sheltered warmth of Opotiki, ara all most favourable to the growth of the sorghum, and it reaches a height of from ten to twelve feet wherever tried here, .and looks wondei fully vigorous and flourishing. Several of the farmers are growing the plant to back up Mr Dumergtie's experiment, with the intention of devoting more land to it if it should prove a success. I may mention incidentally that I have seen it growing in several places, and speak from experience of the peculiar suitability of the soil and climate for its production. Mr Dumergue will be ready to give the important question a practical trial in a fortnight, and before the end of next month it may be expected that the first sugar produced from sorghum or any other source in New Zealand will be ready for the approval of the Auckland buyers. It is a que&tion of vital interest to little Opotiki, and of some importance to all New Zealand, as the starting of a new industry amongst the many others that will demand all the attention and energy of settlers in these go-ahead times.