Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-04-02
the job will be comparatively easy and by
no means difficult Hearth and Home.
Cultivation and Management Of Broom
Corn.

A writer in the Western Rural says:
As have had considerable experience
both in growing and manufacturing broom
corn, send you few remarks on these
subjects which may be interesting. The
soil for broom corn should be rich and
free from weeds. Heavy clay lands are
unsuited TO It. Rich mellow bottoms are
best adapted TO its growth. The soil is
prepared the same as for corn and the
seed is sown as early in spring as the
ground is fit to receive il in drills 81
to feet asunder. About four quarts OF
seed will be sufficient for an acre, if put
In carefully with drill-machine When
the plants are strong they should be
thinned, and the ground between them
hoed to keep down weeds. The harrow
and cultivator should be kept going be-
tween the rows, and a double-mould board
plow is used by some growers with good
effect.
The evergreen variety gives the great
est return, but IL is somewhat later in
ripening than the common and dwarf
kinds. When it is nicely brushed out,
the tops are bent and allowed to stand in
this position for week or so,more OF less,
according to the state of the weather. II
is then cut and piled or spread in little
bundles consisting of about an Armful in
each. 1t is easier cured if spread little.
1t is generally cut when the straw is Just
beginning to change from a green to a
yellow, and while the grain is in milky
state. Frost is injurious to it, so is rain.
The latter coming when the brush is lying
in the field after being cut, causes 1t to
heat and mildew, making 1t brittle and
discolored.
Green brush sells best, but when baled
too green, it heats and spoils rapidly.
After being cut, one days exposure will
be sufficient il the weather is fine better
house it at once after cutting than allow
it to get rain. 1t can be cured in sheds or
houses, on racks or joists, far enough
asunder to permit circulation of air. A
large quantity of brush may be cured in
medium sized house or shed, by having
several tiers Of racks one over the other,
with spaces of foot or more between
each. When well cured the brush is
baled. When cut too green the stalks
will shrivel and be unfit for market.
| When allowed too become too ripe the
brush turns yellow and becomes brittle
mean between the two extremes is the
safest and best way of proceeding.
The evergreen variety may be allowed
to become ripper before cutting than the
common or dwarf, and in some cases may
be permitted to bring the seed to perfec
ton without danger to the brush. The
seed is taken off by machine construct.
ed for the purpose, and is sometime es
scraped off by simpler means, From 200
to $50 bushels of brush are put into a bale
The acreable yield is from 500 to 1000
pounds, more or less, according to the
richness of the soil, and also to the variety
that is grown. The price of the brush
has very wide range, varying from $50
to $3.50 per ton, according to the quality
When cultivated on large scale, with ap,
propriate buildings and machinery for the
manufacture of the broom, the profit is
much greater than when operations are
performed on a smale scale without suit
able conveniences.