- The Mountain Messenger, Thursday, October 4, 1990 7A
/ '
The Joy of Farmin
good" cane mo-
cool fall weather
rae that it is molasses-
was a child we always
Cane. Sometimes we
also raised Cain.
instance I mean we
atch of cane sorghum.
is very susceptible to
one of the last crops
The young seed-
looked very much
had to be weeded and
As the cane grew
resembled corn. The
fall saw the tassel-
Ls develop into thou-
Small seeds that glit-
tiny black beads. As
shortened and the
chilly, we children
time to get ready to
Ella S. Galford
/
pan with its
ttom and ends was
2 feet long. It was
the loft of the stor-
and placed beside the
It must be kept
Water for several days
sides would swell
so tightly bonded
foetal that it was leak-
must also be
This was a
that had flat
the top edge to form
for the pan. At
of the trench was a
The other end was left
poles of wood could
the fumace and to
home from school this
would admon-
}ave to get the cane
it comes a frost."
if the blades were on
even the slight-
give the molasses
rUshed home, changed
clothes and, row by
each blade from
The blades were left
Plies and Dad would
for cow fodder.
kept a pile handy for the mill
feeder, someone collected the full
containers of sap from the feeder
and strained it into the pan
while another kept the fire going
and cleaned the crushed stalks
from underneath the mill.
Grandma Josie liked to visit
and help with the molasses
making. After all she was the
expert who had taught Dad the
right way to make molasses. She
sat on a split bottom chair be-
side the pan and commenced
skimming the molasses from the
time the sap began to boil until
the molasses were done. Her
skimmer was a lard bucket lid
punched full of small holes and
attached to a long handle. This
was an important job because if
the molasses were not kept
skimmed they would be strong
tasting and even bitter.
Finally the mill was stopped
and the evening shadows began
to lepgthen. As the sap began
changing to an amber color
neighbors and children arrived.
The pungent smell of wood
smoke mingled with the sweet
steaming molasses as we chil-
dren played hide-and-seek in the
early twilight. Then someone
would yell that the molasses
were running a river and we
gathered around the pan. The
molases were so thick that the
entire pan looked like a flowing
boiling river and we knew it was
time to take them off the fire.
The hot molasses were then
poured through a closely woven
cloth strainer into large contain-
ers and carried into the kitchen
to be put into the hot sterilized
jugs.
We each had a saucer of the
warm molasses flavored with
chunks of melting butter which
we sopped with biscuits. Neigh-
bors left. taking sample jars of
molasses with them. We made
30 to 40 gallons each year. Some
of these were sold. Dad had
regular annual customers be-
sides adding new ones occasion-
ally. We used several gallons
ourselves. We ate them either on
on molasses making biscuits and pancakes or used
the cane patch -,
...... &hero.to rmlk - gt rbread, cook-
s, wagon and corn ies and taffy.
of cane were piled
Wagon and brought to
lll. We children then
topping the cane --
cut off the seed
of these were saved
another year and
was stored to be
mill was set about
the ground. It was
platform built
two big metal
I stood in an upright
rollers turned
t other when the mill
Under the rollers
metal bottom that
so the cane sap
into a container set
mill. A long sap-
fitted into a metal
top of the mill. A
end of sap-
Was fast , T thte the
of the horses. This
horse to walk in a
the mill. As he
lever turned the cogs
the rollers to rotate.
a small pile of cane
SOmeone began feed-
between the rollers
crush and squeeze
them.
warmth of the
clopping of the
droning of bees
.'a-green sweet sap
we were working.
cane, another
Recalling the wonderful taste
of those cane molasses has
tempted me over the years into
buying an occasional pint. I was
always disappointed as I had a
product which I could only util-
ize for baking. I supposed either
my taste had changed or my
memory of the taste of Dad's
cane molasses was a figment of
my imagination. And then Dr
Crag Mohler brought me a jar of
molasses his father had made.
Here was "sopping good" molas-
ses. Tasting like that of yester-
year.
How sad that most of the cane
molasses sold over store count-
ers are made by folk who do not
know the art of making "sopping
good" molasses.
Special Fund Fastablished
To Help Obtain Speech Aid
A private citizen's project is
currently underway to provide
speech aid. The goal of the group
is to raise over $4,000; half of
which they have already re-
ceived.
Fifteen-year-old Melissa Amos
has spastic cerebral palsy, that
has severely disabled her move-
ments and speech. One example
of confinement Mellssa endures
occurred during her aunt's wed-
ding In July. Melissa was able to
serve as maid-of-honor and was
wheeled into the gazebo at the
Marlinton Park. Although she
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enjoyed the wedding p~iy, l{er
condition left her unable to join
in the conversation that fol-
lowed.
Melissa is a freshman at Web-
ster County high School. Size is
the daughter of Leon and
National 4-H
Week Celebrated
to attract organizations and gen-
erous individuals to contribute
to a fund for Melissa's cause."
Donations can be sent either
to: Sister Mary Weatherly.
C.D.P., P. O. Box 831. Cowen
26206; or directly to a special
fund set up at United National
Bank, Cowen 26206.
"4-H Makes a World of Differ-
ence" is the theme for this year's
National 4-H week. Around the
Carolyn Amos. Her greatest frus- county, as well as the nation, 4-
tration is to have people respond H'ers will be celebrating the ac-
to her attempts to speak with complishments of this great
"what did you say?." youth organization the week of
Sister Mary Weatherly, who is October 7-13. Greenbrier County
Melissa's speech therapist, is 4-H'ers join 4.9 million members
spearheading the drive to pro- nationwide in being involved
vide the teenager with a touch with the 4-H program.
talker. Using this people could Through 4-H, young people
then understand what Melissa
was saying. The price of a touch acquire and develop life skills
that enable then to become self-
talker is financially out of reach directing, productive, and con-
of her parents, Sister Weatherly tributlng members of society.
explained. The device costs an
They learn good health habits,
estimated $4,350. "Our hope is develop respect for themselves
and others, explore career and
leisure time opportunities, share
responsibility for preserving the
environment, learn how to use
modern technology, and develop
leadership and citizenship skills
through participating in 4-H.
Melissa Amos
Makes
a World of
.... Difference
The four H's stand lor head,
heart, hands, and health. These
are the four aspects of people
that are stressed through 4-H.
Members learn to use their
heads for clearer thinking, have
greater loyalty in their hearts for
the thing America stands for,
use their hands for greater serv-
ice, and promote their health for
better living. Through projects,
programs, and activities these
things are stressed in the clubs.
4-H has a special meaning in
this area. In West Virginia this
very special program was actu-
ally started in Monroe County
when a group of farm boys
formed a club to grow corn in
1909. At first the club centered
around such projects, then it
began to include other activities.
One of these activities was the
world's first 4-H camp held in
Randolph County.
Even though agriculture and
home economics were the origi-
nal purposes for early 4-H clubs,
the leaders felt the clubs should
offer more and so the name and
ideals of 4-H were born.
The activities and opportuni-
ties in this program are unlim-
ited -- not just for youth but for
adults who want to be volunteer
leaders. Volunteers are a vital
part of the program. Youth and
adults alike benefit from this or-
ganization and develop skills
used throughout life. Call Patri-
cia Crane at the Greenbrier
County Extension Office, 645-
1525, for more information.
Bluegrass Market
Saturday September 29, 1990
826 head sold to 132 buyers
Amounting to $285,078.40
STOCKIER & FEEDER
STEERS:
Under 500# 70.00 105.00
500-750# 55.00 90.50
Over 750# 66.00 76.50
HEIFERS:
Under 500# 60.00 89.00
501-750# 58.00 80.50
Over 750# 45.50 68.00
BULL CLVS 71.00 87.00
BABY CLVS 30.00 125.00
SLAUGHTER CATTLE
STEERS
HEIFERS
COWS 32.00 52.00
MOST SOLD 46.00 48.00
BULLS 54.50 63.50
Under 1000# 58.00 60.00
Over I000# 58.00 63.50
COW & CALF
PAIRS 590.00
COWS, BH
960.00
HOGS
SLAUGHTER 38.00 52.25
SOWS 32.00 46.00
BOARS 33.50 43.00
PIGS & SHOATS
By Head 6.00
PONIES
38.00
HORSES
EACH 350.00 450.00
MULES 145.00
SHEEP & LAMBS
BLUE 47.00
RED 44.00
OTHERS 20.00
EWES 8.00
BUCKS 13.50
WETHERS 29.00
49.00
19.00
22.00
GOATS
By Head 19.00 50.00
A Pa
International
JIM JACKSON
Insurance Division Manager
MOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL - 536.2000
TRUCK USERS, FORESTERS,
AND FARMERS
You are our NUMBER ONE
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business include
CMOPLETE INSURANCE
. SERVICES through our new
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Health & Life
Packages for you and your
employees, Call Jim Jackson for a
competitive quote.
LEWlSBURG 1-64 & EXIT 175
(304) 536-2000
1990
Market, Inc.
Lewisburg, WV 24901
Wednesday, October 17, 8:00 P.M.
CALF SALE
Ronceverte
Friday, October 5th 8:00 Until Noon
FREE Coffee & Doughnuts
*Register to Win $25.00 Gift Certificate
& a Priefert Automatic Cattle Headgate
(2 gift certificates wil be given away)
Wednesday, October 31, 8:00 P.M.
CALVES AND YEARLINGS
For Further Information
Bluegrass Market, Inc ................................. 645-7861
Charlie Long ......................................... 645-2120
Bill Irons ............................................ 647-4357
Saturday, October 13th 10:00 AM
W. Main St. Ronceverte, WV.
(Watch for Signs)
Contour Chair; Couch; 9X12 Braided Rug; Color TV; Lots What-Nots; Small Desk;
Book Case; Library Table; Flat form Rocker; Several small Tables; Small Old round
Pedestal Lamp Table; Lots Pictures; Table Lamps; Floor Ash Tray; Old Oak
Rocker; Windsor Rocker; Magazine Rack; Nice Wall Mirrors; Formica Dinette Set
w/4 chairs; Guardian Serve Cookware; 2-upright Freezers; 2-Refrigerators; Metal
Dish Cabinet; Elec. Appliances; Stainless Silverware; Lots Dishes (some old); Lead
Crystal Bell; Large Glass Basket; Old Round Butter Printer; Old Wooden Cup-
board; Old Wooden Rocker; 6 gal. Crock; Collection old bottles; R.C. Commerative
bottles; Whirlpool Washer & Dryer; Old Kitchen Cabinet; Electrolux Vacuum Clean-
ers; Window Air Conditioner; Window Fan; Old Singer Tredle Machine made elec.;
2 Flat Top Trunks; Cherry Bedroom Suit w/Twin bunk Beds; 4 pc, Maple Bedroom
Suit; Quilts; Bed Linens; Nice Cedar Chest; Clothes Hamper; Bath Tub Hoyer
Lifter; Wheel Chair; Army Cots; Lots Jars; Wooden Step Ladders; Wooden Exten-
tion Ladders
Guns-- Remington Model 722 - ,300 Savage; Remington Wing Master Model 870
12 ga.; Cherry 4-gun Cabinet; Wall Gun Rack w/feet & horns; Shenandoah Heater;
" S 82 John Deere Riding Mower; Deutiz Allis Self-propelled Push mower w/
bagger; wheel barrow; XR70 Weed Eater; Homelite 150 Chain Saw; Lots Garden
Hose; Belens Husky Garden Tractor w/attachments; Lots Hand Tools; Reamer;
Brace & Bits; Toledo Pipe Threader & Dies; Buck Saw; Rope Block & Tackle; Tree
Trimmer; Push plow; Old Metal Glider; Lawn Chairs; Lot storm windows; Andirons;
Firewood;
1979 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 - 34,000 miles • 1982 Dodge Aries - 61,400 miles •
Vehicles and guns will be sold at t2:00 Noon.
Settlement Day of Sale Lunch Served
Sale Conducted for the heirs, to settle the late C.E. (Toe) Campbell Estate
Campbell's Real Estate & Auction
Franklin Campbell- Broker- Auctioneer #202
Rt. 1 Box 51, Gap Mills, WV • 304-772-5524
Not responsible for accidents
Blackleg 7 way 50 dose
BRD3 (IBR-BVD-PI3 killed)50 dose
Discovery 4 (killed) 50 dose
RALGRO 24 count spool
IVOMEC 200cc
.Tramisol Injectable 500cc
Tramisol Pour-On 500ml
Tramisol Boluses 50count
LA200 500cc
LA200 250cc
3 Day SULFA Boluses 50ct.
SPECTAM 500cc
Aeromycin 4G crumbles 50#
Penicillin 250cc
Oxy.Tet 100 500cc
WARBEX gallon
TRICHLORFON gallon
DeLice gallon
Regular SALE
$9.50 $8.60
$61.25 $50,90
$86.99 $74.50
$28.99 $24.99
$120.99 $106.90
$56.99 $49.99
$83.99 $73.00
$67.50 $62.50
$72.99 $59.00
$38.99 $29.99
$54.00 $47.00
$39.95 $34.00
$16.95 $14.99
$15.29 $13.90
$12.99 $11.90
$30.59 $28.85
$19.99 $17.90
$19.95 $17.90
Store Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 8:00- 5:30 Saturday 7:30- 12:00
