SORGO AND IMPHEE. The first official report we have of the growth of Sorgo and Imphee, and its manufacture into Syrup and Sugar in the State is obtained from the State Census for 1858. Its introduction into the State was through the U. S. Patent Office in the year 1856 and 1857, and proved at once a success, so much so that in 1862 it occupied over 36,000 acres. It probably reached that amount in 1861. From the State Censuses and that of the United States, we have as follows: The average product per acre of Sorgo and Imphee Syrup is near seventy-eight and a half gallons. It is unfortunate that the information was not obtained of the number of acres worked up to produce the amount of Syrup reported, as it is a notorious fact that on an average at least one-third of the cane grown was not made into syrup, owing to want of facilities for grinding and evaporating. It is also an admitted fact that the crude machinery used did not extract more than two-thirds of the juice. Deducting the one-third as not worked up would make an average of 117 gallons per acre as the most probable yield of Syrup. If appropriate machinery had been used one hundred and fifty gallons per acre would have been produced. The yield of 1863 was cut off at least three-fourths by frost, and most of the syrup made was of a quality inferior to that of the previous year, the cane being injured by frost. The aggregate yield in Iowa in 1859 was nearly one-third of the whole product of the United States, and exceeding either of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri, more than 1,000,000 gallous. These four States produced not quite one half of the whole crop, and the highest, Indiana, was 827,777 gallons; the lowest, Ohio, 707,416 gallons. In all the subsequent years Iowa has continued in the lead, so far as we can learn from reliable sources. Nothwithstanding the very general failure last year, our farmers generally are not discouraged, and we should not be surprised that we would have a yield exceeding that of any previous year, if well ripened and pure seed can be obtained. In quality the syrup from Sorgo made in Iowa is generally of superior quality, and goes largely towards supplying the wants of a large portion of our farmers' families. The crop is as sure as that of corn. The average cost of cultivation and working into syrup does not exceed 20 cts. a gallon, when properly prepared for making it. There has nothing been developed within the past year which can be relied upon in regard to any great improvement in the manufacture of syrup or sugar from Sorgho or Imphee, beyond what was known when the season for working comnienced. Extensive and well prepared arrangements were made to test several modes, but the early and severe frosts blasted every effort. If we have a favorable season this year we will, doubtless, have some reliable developments, although it is to be feared that general success will not be so certain owing to the great scarcity of pure and well-ripened seed. A discovery of a process of making sugar from any sorghum molasses of fair quality, has been made by a gentleman in Nebraska Territory. His process was recently exhibited before a company of gentlemen in the Patent Office, Washington City, where it is said he made sugar from sorghum syrup, on exhibition there, in a few minutes. The quality in appearance and taste is equal to the best Southern Coffee Sugar. The discoverer says the cost is very trifling, for foreign material, being only ten cents for thirty pounds of Sugar. The quantity made from a gallon is not less than five pounds, leaving the remainder a clear amber color and of sufficient body for table use. The process is so simple that any farmer can make his own sugar. A patent has been applied for, and will, doubtless, be granted. Another year will develop this wonderful discovery, and if successful it will create an entire revolution in sugar making of all kinds. GRAPES AND WINES. In 1849 Iowa is returned by U. S. Census to have produced 420 gallons of wine, and in 1859, 3,706 gallons. These embraced, it is very probable, every thing made called wine, and much of it from the wild grape. The State Census of 1863 gives the number of gallons made from the cultivated grape only, in 1862, as 13,163 gallons, of which there was made in Des Moines county, 4,457; in Lee county, 2,882; and in Dubuque county 1,224 gallons, being near two-thirds of the whole. From the number and extent of vineyards which only came into bearing during the past year, the yield of 1863 must have been considerably more than in 1862. Of grapes, the number of pounds reported as grown in 1862, was 294,755, which was doubtless doubled in 1863. Grape culture in Iowa is an experiment no longer, there being many of the best varieties which withstand our low temperature in winter very well, especially the Concord, for which it is claimed no winter protection is necessary. There is scarcely a section of our State where the wild grape fails to produce abundantly every year, and especially is this the case on the sandy bottoms of the Missouri and Des Moines Rivers, from which some very nice wines have been made for domestic use and of sufficient purity to be a valuable auxiliary to the wines used as medicine. HONEY AND BEESWAX, AND HIVES OF BEES. The productions of Honey and Beeswax were as follows: This interesting branch of Husbandry is progressing with the increase of population, and presents a much higher average per inhabitant than Illinois or Wisconsin in 1859. For Iowa in that year it was 1.41 pounds, Illinois, 81-100ths of a pound, and Wisconsin only 29-100th of a pound. Iowa ranks over Illinois 60-100ths of a pound, over Wisconsin 1.12 pound, and over both together 41-100ths of a pound. This is a very flattering exhibit for Iowa over her Western sister States. Whether our climate and food is more favorable, or that our farmers give Bee-culture more attention, we are not advised, probably both have their influence. We merely state the facts, leaving for others to give the causes. It is a branch so remunerative that we are astonished greater attention is not given to it. The average product per hive in Iowa, in 1862, was nearly 13 pounds. Clayton 1187 106318 2213 Clinton. 1060 60982 332 2007 Crawford 21 3873 1 11 Dallas. Davis. Decatur. Delaware. Des Moines. 7034 12012] 538 2871 601 15076 6682 9780 2292 1425 2115 24913 2 3 8 26 1556 4501 17968 436 79 301 678 71 269 666 6242 449 32769 1393 1962 4724 5452 746 3874 6123 988 347 30545 3511 311 1162 1947 267 1870 3674 4554 783 58030 234 1522 4682 6736 851 499 1061 20407 7931 57027 2372 5846 11278 15609 871 89 179 1242 14 1215 353 2354 136267 80 1933 11800 16972 850 368 523 15632 Iowa. Jackson 1177 Jasper 430 500 Johnson. 662 Jones. Kossuth 5 193 507 27306 58 3231 1633 2894 420 711 152 15974 997 6213 10899 2374 614 1175 6400 340! 783 11897 291 614 540 429 754 16446 587 1262 16414 1856 Lyon Totals.... 35535 2362918 37498 70565 224187 328042 55173 36410 71091 633420 IRISH POTATOES. The yield of potatoes for 1862 was a fraction over 66 bushels per acre, or about 15 bushels less than the general average of 1849-5658-and 59. This gave an average of three bushels to each person in the State. The product of 1863 could not have averaged more than two bushels to each person, the drouth having affected the crop very seriously. The official returns for the following years are given: The crop of sweet potatoes for 1862 was but 37,498 bushels, being 13,440 less than that of 1859. It is hardly probable that the crop of 1863 exceeded that of 1862, as our farmers generally think it requires too much labor for the returns, and the unfavorable season had considerable influence upon it. Notwithstanding all these, the crop would doubtless have been doubled if plants could have been had in season and in sufficient quantity. On soils suited to their nature they are grown of large size, and of excellent quality and flavor in this State. The Nansemond variety is recommended as the best. HAY, STRAW AND CORN FODDER. The product of all kinds of hay for 1862, is 1,033,553 tons, of |