ing for purifying a much larger body of tolerably pure, than of impure, syrup. Accordingly, the first concentration should be carried to no more than 20° B., or the syrup, if denser, brought to this point again by adding hot water; and being then neutralized with lime, aiding perhaps with addition of some fine charcoal, and of milk or eggs, etc., it should be made to boil, and all impurities rising carefully removed; it will then be in condition for filtering to the best advantage. Well-filtered sorghum syrup is spoken of as being bright, of an amber color, and of very pleasing flavor. After filtering, the syrup should be boiled again, with the least possible delay, to the required concentration-the vacuum-pan, and a temperature not exceeding 150°, here giving the

best results.

Mr. J. F. Shelden (or Shedden, and, it appears), of Mercer Co., Ill., has patented a mode of treating sorghum syrup with soda, bitartrate of potash, and milk, in succession, to remove the acrid and vegetable (" sorghum") taste, and to purify; and also, modes of clarifying cold syrup, and sweetening it, when sour, by adding sesquicarbonate of potash (saleratus)-1 lb. to 20 gallons; and for causing cold sorghum syrup to granulate, by adding the like quantity of the same or of other forms of alkali. Syrups beginning or likely to ferment, in warm weather, from having been finished in impure state, may be re-handled-adding a few gallons of water, and some six quarts of lime-water at 4° B., to the barrel, and boiling again: much scum rises, and the syrup is sweetened, and made bright, and of good color.

Sorghum Sugar.-The doubts which at first existed as to whether the saccharine matter of the sorgho and imphee were in reality, at least in good degree, a crystallizable cane sugar, or were only glucose, appear of late to have been quite dispelled, and not merely through the results of analyses which have been made, but also by the manufacture and exhibition in numerous instances of samples of sugar from the sources named, and which have been declared identical with and equal to that from the tropical cane. The chief reasons why the production of sugar has not as yet become more generally an object with the cultivators of sorghum, appear to exist in the great difficulties attending the management of the juice, already mentioned, and particularly in the want of some ready and economical method of bringing the saccharine solution into a sufficiently pure condition for granulation. The only important question in the case, therefore, still remaining undecided, is that as to whether sugar can be produced from the sorghum at a cost enabling it to compete with the New Orleans and other cane sugars; and this question, it would now appear, is most likely to receive an affirmative answer, if at all, through the further application of chemical principles and the trial of new purifying agents, in the treatment of the juice.

Mr. Hedges, along with many others, ex

presses confidence that the production of sugar economically from the sorghum will yet be accomplished. He had secured a fine crystallization, beginning in two hours and complete within two days, in batches of properly finished syrup; though the best sample of sorghum sugar, with a single exception, that he had seen, was one obtained from syrup kept over, and which did not begin to crystallize until the following summer. Evidently, however, in order to successful manufacturing, the granulation and purging of the sugar should be complete within about a week.

For the making of sugar, undoubtedly, the best seasons and maturity of the cane are most favorable, and a juice, if possible, marking at least 10° B.; while the most thorough filtering and defecation practicable is requisite, and the use of the vacuum-pan, after the preparatory concentration and filtering, doubtless to be preferred. The high temperatures required for the final boiling in the open air-about 225° for syrup, and 230° for sugar-are likely to caramelize a portion of the saccharine matter, imparting a brown color and burnt flavor. Boiling in such manner, for sugar, the heat should not rise above the temperature last named; and the syrup should not be made too thick, or its crystallization is impeded. When the charge is removed into coolers, its temperature should not be allowed to fall below about 90°, until granulation is complete this condition rendering necessary an inclosed and artificially-heated granulating room. The coolers should be wooden boxes; and draining-boxes, of V shape, and with slide-covered opening in the bottom, should be in readiness to receive the sugar when granulated. Mr. Cook greatly expedited the cleansing of the sugar by introducing the paste of crystals and molasses into a strong linen sack, and subjecting it thus to the action of an ordinary press, obtaining the sugar dry in this way within an hour. In wellgrained and cleansed sugar, the "sorghum taste" will not be found, the matters imparting it being drained out in the molasses.

Other Uses of Sorghum.-Besides the employment of the saccharine juice of the sorghum for the making of syrup and of sugar, of alcohol and vinegar, of its fibre for paper stock, and of the crushed stalks for fuel and for manure, the plant and certain of its products also serve other important uses. All parts of the plant are eaten by horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry; and the prejudices which at first existed against it, as being supposed liable to injure the stock feeding upon it, are now well-nigh done away. To produce the entire plant for feed, the seed may be sown broadcast; and the crop may be fed either green or dry. The seed from matured canes, some 40 bushels to the acre, may also be fed to cattle, etc., with admirable fattening effects; or, ground, it makes a somewhat colored, but not unpalatable bread.

The syrup is, in the rural districts, to some extent used for general sweetening purposes;

while, properly applied in connection with a brine of common salt and saltpetre, it serves an excellent purpose in the curing of meats. Finally, it may be remarked that, although it is as yet difficult to obtain the saccharine matters of the juice in form of a crystallized sugar, yet their chemical tendencies, not less than the results of experiment, show that it is extremely easy to convert them wholly into alcohol; and this, so obtained, is also naturally purer and more desirable than that afforded by the juice of the beet.

Profits of Sorghum Culture.—The data are not at hand for showing, generally, the profits which may be realized from the cultivation of the Chinese and African canes, nor even, comparatively, the probable value of the crop in different parts of the country; and besides, certain statements relative to these points, are already familiar to the agricultural public.

Mr. Cook puts the expense of cultivating an acre of sorghum at from $37 to $45-possibly, $50. The canes raised by himself, yielded about 225 gallons of syrup to the acre; and from which he obtained 7 lbs. to the gallon, or 1,575 lbs., per acre, of sugar. Mr. J. II. Smith, of Quincy, Ill., made from the crop of 1861 the quantity of 1,500 lbs. of sugar to the acre, with an additional 115 gallons of fair syrup. Rating the sugar at 10 cts. per pound, and the syrup at 40 cts. per gallon, wholesale, this would give: 1,500 lbs. sugar, at 10c.. 115 galls. molasses, at 40c..

Deduct expenses, say.

.....

$150 00 46 00 $196 00 50 00

Balance, net profit...... $146 00 Yearly Product of Syrup and Sugar from Sorghum-Mr. Hedges considers the number of mills in use for grinding these canes, in 1860, to have been 6,000, and taking the product for each mill at 20 barrels of syrup of 40 gallons each, finds a total quantity of 120,000 barrels, and total value, $2,400,000. Mr. Clough, in 1864, states that sorghum sugar, though beginning to be made throughout the districts generally, is not yet produced in sufficient quantity to enter materially into the trade. The product in syrup, in 1862, in the ten States below named, which furnished full returns, was (as per tables of the Agricultural Department) as follows:

The sorghum is, however, also raised to considerable extent in many other of the States, as in Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, as well as in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and perhaps other New England States; while recently, it is becoming a popular crop also in Maryland and Delaware. The crop generally of the year 1863 was largely destroyed by frosts; that of 1864 was estimated to be about equal to the yield of two years previous, the canes being indeed more injured, but a larger area being planted—the product in Illinois alone, however, showing a great increase (more than one-fifth) over that of 1862. (See also estimates at close of the article SUGAR, MANUFACTURE OF, etc.)

Sources of Information.-The materials for this article have been drawn mainly from the sources the language of which has also doubtless been in a few instances adhered to-which follow, namely: certain reports, etc., in the volume devoted to Agriculture of the Patent Office Reports for 1857; the article of Mr. Isaac A. Hedges, entitled "Sorghum Culture and SugarMaking," and that of Mr. D. M. Cook, on the Sorghum, in the like volume for 1861; the article of Mr. Wm. Clough, editor of the Sorgo Journal, Cincinnati, entitled "Sorghum, or Northern Sugar-Cane," in the "Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture," for 1864; and an article upon "Sugar," in the Merchants' Magazine, v. 48, Jan., 1863.

SOUTH CAROLINA. The necessity for a modification of the laws of this State relative to persons of color which should enable the civil authorities to extend jurisdiction over them in all cases, and should make the punishment of crime more certain against all classes, and the adoption of such measures of relief as the condition of the people required, caused the Governor to assemble the Legislature in extra session on September 6th. At that time more than one-half of the inhabitants of the State were exempt from all liability to punishment under the laws. In most of the districts neither provost nor freedmen's courts were in existence, and persons of color perpetrated crime with impunity. Some of the gravest offences against society were tried before military commissions sitting at a distance and attended with long delay, great expense, and a difficulty in procuring an attendance of witnesses. The provost courts, where organized, imposed unequal and lighter punishments than was imposed by the State courts on whites. The Governor proposed to remedy the difficulty by extending the jurisdiction in civil and restricting it in criminal cases to offences punishable with less than death, and thereby relieving other courts. He urged the admission of the testimony of colored persons in all cases, saying:

The first paragraph of the section admitting persons of color to testify in all cases where themselves or their race are directly interested, and excluding them by implication in all cases where they are not interested, cannot be reconciled with sound policy or just discrimination. They are admitted in that class

of cases where their interest, sympathy, association, and feelings, would be most likely to pervert their consciences and invite to false swearing, and are excluded from testifying in all cases where no motive could exist to swear falsely, except that of a depraved heart. The distinction is illogical and indefensible, and it cannot be denied that it has its foundation in a prejudice against the caste of the negro. If the rules of evidence in all the courts were so modified as to make all persons and parties competent witnesses in their own and all other cases, no possible danger could result from it. Many of the States of the Union, and several of the civilized countries of the Old World have tried the experiment, and the result proves that the cause of truth and justice has been thereby promoted. The object of every judicial investigation is to ascertain the truth, and, when found, to dispense justice in conformity thereto. With intelligent judges and discriminating juries, correct conclusions will be more certainly attained by hearing every fact, whatever may be the character or color of the witness.

The stay law, which had been passed at the previous session, was declared by the courts to be unconstitutional, as impairing the obligation of contracts. It was recommended for the relief of debtors, that imprisonment for debt, except in cases of fraud, should be abolished; that no costs should be taxed against a defendant, and that by an amendment of the insolvent debtor law the debtor, upon making an assignment, could receive a full discharge.

The extra session which ensued continued for three weeks, during which resolutions were adopted authorizing the Governor to issue, in such form and manner as he might deem proper, $300,000 of State bonds, and with the proceeds of the sale of the same, to purchase 300,000 bushels of corn, delivered free of farther expense, for the support of the destitute people of the State. The civil jurisdiction of the district courts was extended. An act was passed to establish a penitentiary in the State. All persons having one-eighth of negro blood, were declared to be persons of color, and the same civil rights were granted to them as to whites. Other measures, which were strictly of local interest, were passed.

The effect of the legislation, by which the courts were open to all persons, with equal civil rights, without distinction of color, was, to cause the commanding Federal general (Sickles) to issue an order on October 6th, turning over to these courts all civil and criminal cases in which the parties were civilians. By the same order the military provost courts were to be discontinued as soon as the State district courts were organized, except at Hilton Head and certain sea islands; the jails were restored to the sheriffs; corporeal punishment was prohibited except in the case of minors; and district commanders were required to report any failure of the civil tribunals to give due protection to persons and property.

The public debt of the State, excluding those debts contracted on account of the war, was on October 1st, $5,205,227. No provisions had then been made for the future payment of principal and interest. The receipts of the treasury,

during the year, amounted to $477,743; the balance on hand on October 1st, was $173,000. The regular session of the Legislature commenced on November 27th, and the measures recommended by the Governor for adoption by the Legislature, indicate that a very complete transition is taking place in the internal regulations of the State. The jurisdiction of district courts was limited to colored persons, and they were created by the Constitution, which thus withheld from the Legislature all power to modify them. Grand juries were also unnecessarily summoned to these courts; reforms were also suggested relative to the numbers required for petit juries, and to other features of the administration of justice; also in regard to commissioners of deeds and notaries public. The establishment of a penitentiary required a modification of the criminal law, especially in relation to summary and corporeal punishments. The site selected for this institution was within the corporate limits of Columbia, about half a mile from the South Carolina railroad depot. It was expected cells would be in readiness for convicts on January 1, 1867. More than seventy prisoners had escaped from custody in the State within a few previous months. The admission of negro testimony in courts was attended with more than the expected success. The colored witnesses appeared to be fully impressed with the obligations placed upon them, and their evidence was generally given with a manifest desire to tell the truth. The Governor endeavored, during the year, to discourage the migration of the negroes from the State, and said: “If the negro remains here his labor must be made sufficiently remunerative to subsist and clothe him comfortably. Schools must be established to educate his children, and churches built for his moral training." He urged the Legislature to make it the duty of the commissioners of the poor to provide suitable buildings at the various district poor-houses for the accommodation and subsistence of aged, infirm, and helpless freedmen. Imprisonment for debt is still continued in the State, although its abolition is strongly urged. The situation of debtors was made still more embarrassing by the bad crops of the year in almost every part of the State. In the rice districts of Georgetown and Charleston the number of acres planted before the war was 30,000 ; but, during 1866, the number of acres planted was 14,401. Previous to the war 70,000 to 85,000 tierces were produced, averaging 600 pounds. Of the 14,401 acres planted 1,451 were subsequently abandoned, leaving 12,950 under cultivation. This crop was estimated at 22 bushels per acre, or 12,415 tierces of 23 bushels each of rough rice. The failure of the negroes to work it properly, caused but little more than a half crop

on

the land cultivated. Economically consumed, as food, it was regarded as insufficient to sustain life in one-half of the freedmen of the district. The upland crop was an entire failure. The measures adopted at the extra session of the Legislature to procure a supply of

grain for the destitute were unsuccessful owing to the terms fixed in the joint resolution.

The amendment to the Federal Constitution known as article 14 was brought to the notice of the Legislature by Governor Orr, who said: "It is unnecessary to dwell upon a subject which has been so far decided by the public opinion of the State that I am justified in saying that if the constitutional amendment is to be adopted, let it be done by the irresponsible power of numbers, and let us preserve our own self-respect, and the respect of our posterity, by refusing to be the mean instrument of our own shame."

In the House the amendment was referred to the committee on Federal relations, who made a report in December, unanimously recommending its rejection. The proposition to approve of the calling a national convention was considered. One-half the committee, however, objected on the ground that it could accomplish no good result, because it was questionable whether South Carolina's self-respect would allow her to make suggestions to those who denied her rights as a State under the Constitution, and because it would be undignified in the State to occupy seats in such a convention, whilst her representatives, duly chosen, were forbidden an entrance into Congress. The other half of the committee were of opinion that the State could not in her present condition wisely suggest a direct course of action to the General Government, but that the Legislature should express by resolutions their willingness to go into a national convention and discuss fully and freely the present sectional difficulties.

Resolutions were also reported affirming the wish of the State that the internal affairs of the nation might be so administered as to secure on a liberal and permanent basis the rights of every citizen, and to win back that fraternal confidence of which the cordial cooperation of South Carolina in the results of the war was a pledge that she in good faith sought these designs, and to which that acquiescence entitled her.

The University of the State has been in operation, and contained during the year sixtyfive students. Two professors are required for the medical school, and one of law, to put these departments in operation. A professorship of modern languages is contemplated, and a reduction of the board of trustees.

The important section of the act conferring civil rights on the negroes, as it passed the Legislature, was as follows:

Be it enacted, etc., That all persons hitherto known in law in this State as slaves, or as free persons of color, shall have the right to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be sued, to be affiants and give evidence, to inherit, to purchase, lease, sell, hold, convey and assign real and personal property, make wills and testaments, and to have full and equal benefit of the rights of personal security, personal liberty, and private property, and of all remedies and proceedings for the enforcement and protection of the

same, as white persons now have, and shall not be subjected to any other or different punishment, pain, or penalty, for the commission of any act or offence, than such as are prescribed for white persons committing like acts or offences.

The shipments of cotton to foreign ports from the port of Charleston for the year ending August 31st, amounted to 53,807 bales, which were valued at $8,797,672. The shipments coastwise were 54,147 bales, valued at $7,625,388. The aggregate is 107,954 bales, and total value $16,423,080. This is an unfavorable result when compared with any previous peaceful year of the last twenty-five.

The abolition of slavery in the State has been followed by a decline of the agricultural interest, which has given more importance to manufactures, and the subject has commanded greater attention than ever before. A paper-mill at Bath was run night and day on a tine class of book-paper to fill Northern orders. The proprietors of seven cotton-mills in the upper part of the State, were engaged early in the year in rebuilding and repairing the old ones, and had added another, which was put in thorough working order. The factories at Batesville on the Ennoree, at Crawfordsville on the middle Tiger, and at Bivinsville, were in operation during the war, and at its close the worn-out material was replaced with new and improved machinery ready to be in full operation with the new crop of the year. The Saluda factory burned by General Sherman is reconstructed with new machinery from the North. A factory at Vaucluse has been enlarged with new machinery. Machinery is ordered in Europe to improve and increase the production of the Graniteville company. The largest manufacturing enterprise ever started in the State was complete before the new crop of cotton came to market. It consists of one writing-paper mill, one printing-paper mill, and one cotton factory of twenty thousand spindles, and five hundred looms. The machinery was of English manufacture. The location is on the same stream as Vaucluse.

By far the largest number, if not all the operatives employed in these various factories, are natives of the surrounding country. White people exclusively are employed. Negroes find work in connection with the factories, but they are not what are strictly called operatives.

STOCKTON, ROBERT FIELD, born in Princeton, N. J., in 1796; died Oct. 7, 1866. His father, Richard Stockton, was an eminent lawyer and a United States Senator. His grandfather, Richard Stockton, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Robert F. Stockton was educated at Nassau Hall, which institution he left without graduating, to accept a midshipman's warrant in September, 1811. His first cruise was in the frigate President, under Commodore Rogers, rendering efficient service during the War of 1812, and was commissioned as a lieutenant, December 9, 1814. In the war against Algiers he occupied

the position of first lieutenant of the Spitfire, one of the squadron of Commodore Decatur. To no one, probably, is more credit due than to him in rebuking the arrogance of the British officers in the Mediterranean, and establishing the American character for courage, sensibility, and honor. At the request of the American Colonization Society, and with the consent of the Navy Department, he undertook the acquisition of an eligible site, on the African coast, adapted to the settlement of colonists from America, and sailed on this expedition in the fall of 1821. The negotiations were conducted with great fearlessness and ability, and resulted in the cession of the country near Cape Mesurado, on St. Paul's River, the foundation of the Republic of Liberia. His next services were rendered in repressing the slave-trade, and checking the depredations of the numerous pirates in the neighborhood of the West Indies. He was ordered South with a party to survey the Southern coast in 1823-24, and while thus engaged he was married at Charleston, S. C., to Miss Maria Potter, a daughter of John Potter, Esq., who was subsequently largely identified in the public improvements in New Jersey. Mr. Stockton took great interest in the construction of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, and embarked his whole fortune and that of his family in the enterprise; and it is mainly due to his untiring energy and his consummate ability that that great work of internal improvement was constructed. In 1838 he again sailed for the Mediterranean, and in 1839 was promoted to be a post-captain, and recalled. He refused the office of Secretary of the Navy, which was tendered to and pressed upon him by President Tyler, and in 1842 commenced the construction of the Princeton, a steamship of war, which the Navy Department, at his earnest solicitation, consented that he should build. This was completed in 1844, and was the first successful application of steam to a national ship of war. Another innovation was the introduction of guns of larger calibre, there being two long 225-pound wrought-iron guns in her armament. The unfortunate bursting of one of these on February 28, 1844, on an excursion by the President, Cabinet, and a large number of members of Congress, caused the death of Mr. Upshur, the Secretary of State, Mr. Gilmer, the Secretary of the Navy, and others. Captain Stockton was selected by President Tyler as the bearer of the celebrated annexation resolutions to the Government of Texas, and performed the delicate and important duties with which he was charged to the entire approval of the Government. On October 25, 1845, he sailed in the Congress for the Pacific. The Rev. Walter Colton was chaplain of the frigate, and in his book, "Deck and Port," has testified to the executive and diplomatic abilities of Captain Stockton. After touching at Honolulu, where he succeeded in reestablishing intercourse between the king's government and the American commissioner, which had

been suspended, he sailed for California, and on July 23, 1846, succeeded Commodore Sloat in the command of the Pacific squadron. Hostilities had been commenced between the United States and Mexico, and Commodore Sloat had raised the flag of the United States at Monterey, and two other points. On July 4th the Americans assembled at Sonoma had declared their independence, and elected Colonel Fremont governor. Colonel Fremont repaired to Monterey, to confer with the commander of the squadron, and, on the succession of Commodore Stockton to the command, he accepted the offer of the services of Colonel Fremont in carrying out his expressed intention of reducing the whole of California to a state of complete submission to the authority of the United States. Commodore Stockton immediately commenced the drilling of his sailors, to qualify them for land service, and on August 12th, with his sailor army, attacked General Castro, and on August 13th took possession of Ciudad de los Angeles, the capital of California. On the arrival of Col. Fremont, Stockton appointed him military commander for the whole territory, with a general superintendence over all the departments. On the 8th and 9th of January, 1846, Stockton fought the battles of San Gabriel and the Mesa with his army of sailors and marines, and effectually broke down resistance to the authority of the United States in California. In August, 1846, Commodore Stockton appointed Colonel Fremont civil governor of California, who immediately entered on the duties of his office, which gave rise to a dispute between himself and General Kearney, resulting ultimately in the resignation by Colonel Fremont of his commission in the army. California is indebted to Commodore Stockton for her first press and her first school-house, in addition to his military services. On June 20, 1847, Commodore Stockton, having been relieved by Commodore Biddle, started for home across the plains, and arrived in Washington in December, 1847, and in 1849 resigned his commission in the navy. Notwithstanding his decided refusal to be a candidate for the position, he was elected to the Senate of the United States, to succeed Mr. Dayton, in 1851. He resigned his position in the Senate after his second session, having while a member secured the passage of the bill abolishing flogging in the navy. Although urged by his friends, and widely named by the press, he refused to allow his name to be used as a candidate for the Presidency in 1852, but in 1856 was nominated for President, with Kenneth Raynor for Vice-President, by the American party, which ticket was subsequently withdrawn from the canvass. The remainder of his life was devoted to the interests of the great works of internal improvement in the State of New Jersey, whose prosperity he had done so much to secure.

STRANAHAN, Mrs. MARIAMNE FITCH, an active and philanthropic lady of Brooklyn, N. Y., born in Westmoreland, Oneida County,