Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-11-05
Broom : Corn Culture.
ny WILLIAM II WHITE.


From various causes, the culture ol |
broom corn, in ;he Connecticut River
Valley, especially 10 Connecticut, has
Of late years received little attention
That the crop may be- made a paying
one, at the price it has borne for three
or four years past, there is little room
fJr doub'.
No particular skill is repaired in it,
culture. 10 grow the finest aud bss
brush (for which the crop is growu) re
quires proper sol, I'll Ugh preparation,
good aecd, seaspnable planting, clean
culture, timely harvesting, AID suitable
preparation for market--requiIement
essential 10 the economical production
Of any farm cop.
Tho tall-Rrowing variety is the KIM
most geuer Ey cultivated but the DIV r.
may Dc as good. Having never IT ed
or seen it tested, | um not qualified to
recommend or eondemd it, | have
heard it condemned as growing brush
too slender on some soils, which would
he serious objection. The seed must
be selected while the crop is growing.
Chooss those plants which are the ear
lest, most healthy, with fac, long, thick
and compact brush. Let the seed rip
en- thoroughly before cutting from the
stalk, if possible in the field, then cut
dry, and thresh it separate from the
general crop, running it through fan
ming, TO clean it of all light or i'm.
mature seed. Save it through the win
ter. as you would any choice seed,
where it will be free from veimin,
moisture, or be liable to heat, ETC.
This course Of selection continued will
improve any variety in time, it follow
ed up, producing crops that will escape
ordinary early frosls.
The soil for broom corn must be dry
vet or moist soils will not answer at
ALL A rich aud deep ioaln, such as we
often find on the high banks of the
cast side Of the Connecticut River, or
on tue elevated lands farther back, ia
d. abe.
To obtain the finest aud best brush,
the soil should have been cultivated to
some hood crop, one or more years from
sod, II. close sod is apt to grow
heavy, coarse brush The best
is clover, or clover md timothy
sod, treated as follows; 10 the
fall or early WATER cart out and spread
broadcast over the sod a good coat Of
good stable or yard manure, and let il
lie till spring, when it should be turn
ed under. breaking tue sod deeply ;
pulverise we'll, after lying few days
TO settle, With harrow, ETC., aud plant
to ludian corn, potatoes, or some other
hoej crop, fertilizlng in the hill or drill,
This will put the s,il in fine condition
to grow god crop of broom,corn the
following year, provided thorough clean
culture is given to the first CROP
Strong or 90 rise manure applied the
same season is unfayorable to fne
good brush, and the land needs pre-
vioas dressing to avoid the necessity o.
high manuring the season broom corr
10 grown.
An important item, in growing a
good crop, is in ploughing aud 6nlug
tue soil preparatory thereto, and one
which receives too little attention gen,
orally. Plough the ground deep aud
we'll, aud make the soil 6ue by harrow
ing, etc I; this is done about the same
time that your Indian corn ground is
prepared in Spring. Strike out your
rows north aud south, if convenient, as
giving better SUI exposure, three feet
apart, WITH one~hOrso plough, aud in
these drills place fine, we'll rot.ed, old
manure or compost, three to rve cords
per acre, thirty inches apart for the hills
q prefer bill TO drill culture for con.
venience Of tillage.) This will give the
plants an early, healthy start and
growth, which is essential, as they are
tender, having only slight hold in the
soil, aud tasily affected by cold, ETC.
IL is not best to plant till the sell gets
warm, following Indian. corn rather
than before.
II you have the bes of seed, ten or
twelve seeds TO a hill are plenty to
guard against accidents. Haul little
earth over the manure, aud drop the
seed on it, aud eover half an inch Of
fue soil. Addapt these directions to
small growers who wish to grow goocl
crops. Where forty 10 ono bundred
acres are grown with only four or five
hands for all work, other modes will
be better adaptc !, but no Que should
attempt to grow this crop in any such
proportion to help, it he expects to oh,
tain the highest price for his crop.
AS soon as the pants are up aud can
be disIinguished-which should be in
ten or twelve days-begin to cultivat' .
Don't wait for the weeds il is the corn
wants culture, Early culture gives the
plants a start, aud they grow all the
better for il. Follow the horse cult.
vator with the hand hoe, carefully
freshoniug the soil in and around the
hills. Another dressing in about eight
or ten days should be given, when the
plants should be thinned to six or eight.
No more than six should be allowed to
mature in hill.
II tho plants do not thrive TO suit,
give them dressing of ashes and plas-
ter mixed. a small pinch to hill, at or
before the second dressing This
dressing is good one, even when the
plants look satisfactory After culture
may be principally done with the horse
hoe, giving attention 10 keep free OF
weeds, aud the well growing and thrift
~. As much should be done with
horse labor as possible, aud give clcau,
thorough culture.
WHEN TO SELL FATM PRODUCTS