The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-06-19

ar, ,U.E OF aROOM corn.

Eps. RUeAL NEw YOsKsR:-in your issue "
Ian. 7th, I noticed an inquiry IN resAo " ."e
cul,ure and value of broom corn. NOT see"s
.,, ,nsver from your celebrated broom raisers'
-,ll answer 70 the best Of my ability. promising
.h., although not in that business. am some
H., familiar with il in all its details
IT, nh. frs, place the ground should be dry
I'D ,ch th. same conditions Of soil being re-
.,u;r. "A for Indian cora. After the ground ID
nl,wed and thoroughly pulverized, it must De
rk.i out in rows. three feet apart one "a';
and eighteen inches the other. The rows snou'o
b.. perfectly straight if possible, As this VIII ena'
able the most Of the cultivation TO De uohe VIZ"
. horse. Plant at the season for planting MAIZE
dropping from d 70 kernels ia a hill, ana cover
about one inch deep
A. soon as it appears above the grouho' p"'
q, haodfull Of ashes, or ashes ahd plaster, mix
ed, il the ground is not r'ch enough without sucn
,on dressing. Ia about one week the horse aud
c,I,;v,tor can BE- started and the first hoeing
De,f,rm.d Great care ia required 70 do this
well-ii the ground i. weedy, it is hard to dis.
tinsui.h the broom corn from "piseon grass,
"b.r,, grass" and similar coarse weeds-if the
weed, arr. left the corn gets s.unted and never
will recuperat- The corn should be thihned.
when hood the second tine. To five stocks IN the
hill aud the cutivaror should be busily employ
ed 10 keep the .iound mellow and free from
weeds
After the seed - saw abo I one-half out of the
milk the corn NAV b. tabled and cat. The tAhi-
ing n. performed by Walking between two rows,
and bending or breaking the hills IN each
row. alternately, toSard and across the
other row behind the table or, a. some GO II,
20 back ward between the rows, breaking GOV"
the hills alternately, as before, across eacn oth-
er, Al AN angle with the row, OF 45 degrees -
The tops will then usually reach over the table
about Tar enough 10 cut easily. The tables
should be 10 or Is inches high in order that the
c,t,er NAV not b. Obliged to stoOp too much at
his work. A shoemaker's broad, thin knife, Is
tine best TO cut with. The eating Is performed
by taking hold OF the brush, or tops, and cutting
the .tak about eight inches IRON the brush. IL
REQUIRES mach xiii and practice TO cut rapidly
and easily. The brush should be lett for few
DAYS on the tables, TO dry thoroughly-lt Is then
bound in bundles and used. The seed can be
scraped ID at any time, when convenient Good
seed is worth, for feeding purposes, about the
same A oats Good seed, well rpened and tit
for planting is worth here, usually, 81 per push
ell The average worth of brush here, Is about
$3.50 Der toa. Brooms. from such brush, sell
here, IL well made, for -, 30 for second quality,
and SO for the first quality.
| do not Know the exact cost of raising, bu, i.
il lust about double the work that it is TO raise
maize. The average crop per acre, on good land
is 900 pounds Rich, well cultivated land, will
give |, 800 pounds per acre The crop is under
the control Of the cuivator As mich a. Is Indian
corn, and good farmers will always get good
crops. The hes: fertilizer is rood oarnyard ma
nure-to be applied "a for l. dian corn. The
stalks are usually plowed under for manure; but
some ic~ take pains to pull tine fodder, As used
TO be the custom in the southwest. Probably
the best way to do this is TO let the cows in the
field for an hour each day. after the brush IL har-
vested, and let them pull their own fodder. Il
il equal to tire famed sorghum or " sowed corn, =
for the purpose OF increasing the yield OF milk,
a long as it lasts. ID. A. A. NlCHOLS.
We.tficld, n. T., 1860