Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-21
Cultivation of Broom Corn in the South
Interesting to Farmers

The following letter, addressed to well
known citizen OF Petersburg, saws the
Petersburg Ieder, contains some valuable
suggestions to the farmers of Virginia and
North Carolina, relative to the cultivation
OF broom corn. This is one of the most
profitable crops we can raise and as re-
muneration is the object of the farmers
labors, we commend the letter to q careful
perusal. If 1t is to the farmers benefit
that they should cultivate one crop in
preference to another, let them seek TO
raise the most profitable, and give their
best attention to it, If onions, pea nuts,
broom corn, or anything else, will pay
better than the old crops of wheat, corn,
tobacco, &c., why let them cultivate them.
But to the letter, which we would premise
by saying that one of the firm is from
North Carolina, and the other from Peters
burg:
BALTIMORE, May 9Th, 1869.
Mr.. John p. Branch, PeterSb,ug Va:
Dear Sir Feeling interested in the pros
perity of the South-our recent bomes-and
nsSnng exerted ourselves to encourage thecuIUre
y! broom corn In southwest and northwest Viz
gina and North Carolina, we write this hopino
YOU you ay ~ INDUCE the farmers of your section to
It is most profitable crop, easly cuHiuated.
and commands cash on deLiUery, and often before
1t reaches market. The farmers of Illinois and
there Is no reason why Virginia and North Caro-
lima should not find it equally profitable.
10 safe to calculate on 5000 to $500 per ton Of
1000 lbs. next fall Western riuer bottom lands
produce ,OOO to Is 900 lbs per acre. and il will
grow as well in Virginia and North Carolina, on
iands OF same strength, as in the West and nearer
to market.
1t is cultivated about same as our "sorgum
cane IN the South, only that it stands thicker in
the orllls-one to two inches npart--and il the
! 81 feet apart
1t should be cut in September, and before ripe,
while yet green, with some sig inches of stalk to
the crash, the seed cleaned off at once and the
brush corn dried, cured in the shade, which rem
ders it green when cured III cured in the sun il
turns red and is not worth SO much as the green
| corn.
1t is baled similar to lay or cotton with wire or
rope, only that the brush part is kept inside and
the StatE END tuT'nea out An acre should yield
some 4O or 50 bushels seed, which for stock as
good as oats, and command about same price in
Eastern and Northern markets-60 to so cents.
suppose each farmer in your county planted
but one acre, and it yielded him onLy 800 lbs, clear
brush corn at $3.50 top-124 tbs-$i0O; and the 40
bushels seed, which at 80 cents q bushel would
more than pay freight to market on the 800 lbs.
broom corn, and the labor of groaoing and hand
ling, leaving 800 profit to the acre, which would
more than purchase his years supply of sugar
and coffee, and enable him to pay the cash for it.
Would not this add to tho prosperity of your sec.
ton by increasing its currency. We expect to
manufacture, use up, 40 to so tons per annum,
and thousand N,000) tons Of broom corn would
find sale in oar market at good remunerative
prices; it is also an article of export.
Hoping that many Of your farmers will try it,
and promising them q market, we are
Yours, very respectfully, &c,
BRIDGER. HERRING & Co.,
manufacturers and Wholesale Dealers in Wooden
Ware, Broom Corn Brooms, &c.