The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-03-01
Gle toril.et.
IHOONI CORN.

10 brNlGfnln Franklin, among othrr
benefits conferred on his country, is
America Indebted for the Weeping vat
tcH, now diiused over tie whole land,
and Bf0om Corn. which has become SO
extensively both luxury and necessity
III housekeeping life. He planted slip
OF willow basket which seemed TO pos
scss vitality. and it became tree, which
in tinle supplied cuttings for thousands
olcuItivators. With like providcnt care
h. also planted seed which had adhcr-
ed 10 whiSk, and, as its products, we
hrhold the millions Of broom cornstalks,
spread over our whole country.
AS was natural, broom corn was first
extensively raised in Pennsylvania, the
theatre Of Franklin's experiments. Its
progress as an article Of commerce in
that state, is thus exhibited in the Ger
manto@n 'i'clegraph:---
About 1850, Benjamin Atkinson com
mcnced The broom business in 3ybrrry
township, Philadelphia county, raising
the corn and manufacturing The brooms.
Aftera few Years he took Bczaleel Croas-
dale into partnership, and they jointly
had the trad" altogether in their hands
till 1873 or iSI6-making the brooms
and eniirrIy supplying the markets
of PHILADELPHIA, Baltimore, Lancaster,
Trenton, and sometimes New York. A
broom made in those days would be a
curiosity 10 a modern broom maker: in
yariab!F ionnd with horn on the neck
instead Of Irvine, confined to its place by
a wooden peg, and handle of oak, rough
shaved with drawing knife. The
lroom3 iItu8 made commanded high
price, particularly during the war, when
they SOLD for = % per dozen, whole
SAL. Sine" that time the business has
gradually increased, employing greater
number OF bands, and large capital to
carry on Is various branches.
Some idea Of the present extent of the
trade may be formed from the fact that
Joseph Nansaut, at bis manulactory in
the adjoining township Of BenSalem,
Bucks county, has made and sold two
hundred and fifty thousand handles this
season. and this is in all probability not
more than half the number made alto
81 80 10 81 40 per hundred. The value
of the twiac used per broom is estimated
at cnc-haIf cent, and the labor for ma
King two cents. The cost Of cultivation
is considered to be onc-fourth greater
than that OF Indian corn.-Ghe yield is
uncertain, varying according to the sea-
Son-sometimas as many as nine hun
dred brooms per acre are produced,
though probably from three TO four hun
dFed might be set down as an average
c?op--With thirty bushels Of seed, worth
as much as oats for feed.
The largest quantity Of brooms arc
made in tn lower parts of Bucks and
Montgomery counties, or i'll the upper
townships Of Philadelphia county: and
Delaware and Lancaster counties, and
III S7lem county, n. }.
| have not the necessary statistics at
hand for reference, but | entertain no
doubt that Ohio now manufactures more
broomS than any other state i'll the con-
fei2IanF. The current census will al-
io..l ';t,' n"c"s~arv evidence of this fact.
EQoraa7.-NIr. Charles Meme, prac-
teal chemist, and lecturer ofrcputr, laid
before the Academy the results OF his
experiments on the influence Of plaster
(sulphatn Of iimc) on vegetation. He
announces them thus Since the mem
o~lble experiment Of Franklin, the
world has conceded to plaster (srlphate
of iime) formulating property and a
useful agency for agriculture. He con-
clu les, from the facts he adducrd, LIST,
That plaster possesses, Of itself, no ic-
cnnAating power, and singlv cannot
serve as a manure. I'd. That 1t IS use
full for agriculture only SO far as il is
mixed with ammoniacal substances. Sd.
That it may be replaced by any salt
holding the ammoniac in compound, not
volatile, at common temperatures. lie
adds: Il hope to cause, next year, the
treancnters of the grounds OF Nauglrard,
10 admire more than one field OF witch
the vegetation will be active and extra
ordinary thanks to each Of a number OF
salts which | have mentioned in my me
NOR
.H0tc g0ar own Fondles.-IaEe II
ounces Of alum for every ten pounds OF
tallow, dissolve it in water before the
tallow is put in, and then melt the tai
low in the alum water with frequent stir
ring and it will clarity and harden the
taIow, so as to make a most beautiful
article, for either summer or winter use,
almost as good as Spcrms.
# the wick be dipped in spirits oftur-
pentinp The candies will reflect much
more brilliant light. liner. Farmer.
PouLrGY.-If you desire your hens to
lay, give ilesh OF some kind twice or
thrice a week, chop; up with their 9th
49, c,nL frnsh tisl, hnil.,l and f.lu fine.