Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-03-27

Culture of Broom-corn, and the Manu-
facture of Brooms.

facture of Brooms.
As the culture of Broom. Corn and the
Manufacture of Brooms seems to be an
increasing and a profitable branch of bu-
siness in the State, we give our readers
below, an article upon that subject, writ
ten for the Patent Office Report, by SAN
FORD HOWARD, one of the Editors of the
Cultirator. Perhaps some enterprising
citizen of Edgefeld may conclude to uu-
dertake speculation of this sort. If so,
much help may be derived from Mr..
HowARD's explanation Of the manner of
conducting the business.
We may here add that in making ex-
tracts from the Patent Office Report, we
presume it to be (what at any rate it should
be,) the most authentic and reliable source
of information and instruction upon those
branches which come under its supervi-
SION led.
Having few hours to spend at Sche-
nectady about the first of September last,
our friend, Mr.. Charles H. Tomlinson,
kindly accompanied us to several places
in the vicinity, and among the rest to the
broom mandatory of Messrs. Van Ep.
pes. They have been engaged in the bu-
siness about eleven years. They have
farm of about 300 acres, 200 of which
are Mohawk fats. A large portion of
the flats was formerly of little value, in
consequence of being kept wet by
shallow stream, which ran through it,
and which, together with several springs
that issue from the sandy bluff on the
south side of the flats, kept the ground
marshy, and unfit for cultivation. By
deepening the channel Of the stream, and
conducting most of the springs into it,
many acres, which were formerly almost
worthless, have been made worth $l25
per acre. They have also, by deepening
the channel, saving the water of the
springs, and securing all the fall, made
water privilege, on which they have erect
ed an excellent mill, with several run of
stones, leaving besides sufficient power to
carry saws for cutting out the handles Of
brooms, &c.
"They have this year about 200 acres
Of the flats in broom.corn. The cultiva-
ton of this article has within few years
been simplifed to almost as great de.
gree as its manufacture. The seed is
sown with a seed barrow or drill, as early
in spring as the state of the ground will
admit, in rows 81 feet apart. As soon as
the corn is above ground, it is hoed, and
soon after thinned, so as to leave the
stalks 2 or 3 inches apart. 1t is only
hoed in the row, in order to get out the
weeds that are close to the plants, the
remaining space being left for the harrow
and cultivator, which are run so frequent.
ly as to keep down the weeds. The cul.
tivation is finished by running a small,
double mould-board plough, rather shall
low, between the rows.
"The broom corn is not left to ripen,
as formerly, but is cut while it is quite
green, and the seed not much pass the
milk. 1t was formerly the practice to
lop down the tops of the corn, and let it
hang some time, that the brush might be.
come Strengthened in one direction. Now,
the tops are not Topped till the brush is
ready cut, which, as before stated, is
while the corn is green. A set of hands
goes forward, and lops or bends the tops
to one side, and another follows immedi-
ately, and cuts off the tops at the place at
which they are bent, and third set gath
ers the cut tops into carts or wagons
which take them to the factory. Here
they are first sorted over, and parcelled
out into quite small punches, each bunch
being made up into brush Of equal length.
The seed is then taken off by an appara-
tus with teeth, ike hatchel. The ma
chine is worked by six horses, and cleans
the brush very rapidly. 1t is then spread
thin to dry, on racks put up in buildings
designed for the purpose. In about week,
with ordinary weather, it becomes so dry
that it will bear to be packed closely.
"The stalks Of the corn, after the tops
have been cut off, are five or six feet high,
and they are left on the ground, and
ploughed in the next spring. 1t is found
that this keeps up the fertility of the soil,
30 that the crop is continued for several
years without apparent diminution. 1t
should be observed, however, that the
ground is overAowed every winter or
spring. and a considerable deposit left on
the surface, which is undoubtedly equiva-
lent to a dressing of manure.
"This may be inferred from the fact
that some of the flats have been in In
dian corn every year for forty or fifty
years, without manure, and with good
cultivation have seldom produced less
than sixty bushels per acre, and with ex.
ira cultivation, from eig hty to ninety bu.
shells have been obtained.
In case of need, the stalks would fur