Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-05-22

Culture Of Bresn-CsrH, Nc. I.
W. IL. WHITE.

good seed, scasonable planting, clean
culture, timely harvesting, with suitable
preparation for market or working, re-
Quirsments essential to the economical
production Of any farm crop.
The tall-growing variety is the kind to
which my experience and observation
are limited, and it is the sort generally
grown IN New England. The dwarf
may be as good, but having never seen
it tested. am not qualified to recon-
mend it. have heard it condemned as
growing brush too slender, on some
soils. which would be serious objec-
ton. The seed should be selected
from growing plants, previous to har-
vesting the general crop. Choose those
plants which are the earliest and most
healthy, with fine, long, thick and COM
pact brush. Let the seed rpen before
cutting from the stalk, il possible III
the field, if not, cut at the roots and
shelter from feeling; then cut, dry, and
thresh It separate from the general crop,
running it through tanning mill to
clean it of all light and immature seed.
Save it through the winter, as you
would any choice seed, where it will be
free from vermin, moisture, or liability
to heating etc. Such course OF 81 ee'
ton continued for a term ofyears, Will
surely improve any variety, producing
fine crops and those likely to escape
early frosts.
The soil proper for broOm-corn shout
be dry; wet or moist soils do not an
swer at all. A rich and deep loan, OF
alluvial soil, such as we find on the
high banks Cd the east side OF the Con-
pecticut River, or on some OF the high
grounds further back. is desirable.
To obtain the finest and best brush,
the soil should have been cultivated to
some hoed crop, one or more years
from a sod, as close sod is apt to grow
q heavy. coarse, undesirable brush. Ii
a sod is to be used, clover is best, next
a clover and timothy sod, treated as
follows: In the fall, or early winter cart
ont and spread broadcast, over the sod
a thick coat of good stable or yard ma
nure, and let it lie till spring, when 1t
should be plowed down, breaking and
working the ground deeply; pulyerlze
well, after allowing it to lie few days
to settle, ETC., and plant to Indian corn
potatoes, or some other hoed crop, fer
tilizing the same in the hill or drill, the
object being to reduce the sod. This
such treatment will do and put the soil
in fine condition to grow good crop oil
broom-corn the following year, provi-
ded thorough, clean culture is given this
first crop. Strong, or coarse manure
applied the same season the crop is
growing,i is unfavorable to. the production
of tine good brush; and the land needs
a previous dressing to avoid the neces'
sity of high manurlng the season the
crop IS planted. If necessary to fer
tilize at all, a shoyelful to the hill OF
fine well decayed farm manure gives the
corn a fine early start, and a lively fresh
green color.
An important ltem,in growing a COED
crop, is in blowing and pulyeTizlng the
soil preparatory thereto, and this is ont
which receives too little attention
generally. Plow deep and well, and
make the soil fine by narrowing etc.
THIS should be done in spring, absut
the same time that we pillow ami
fit our ground for Indian corn. Strik-
out the rows, preferably north and SOUTH
as giving a better sun exposure. three
feet apart. with one-horse pillow aud
in these drills place the fine well-rotted
manure, three to five cords per acre.
thirty inches apart for the nils. l pre-
fer hill to drill culture for convenience Of
tillage. 1t is essential that the plants
start into a quick growth at once, as
they arc somewhat tender, having only
aslight hold in the soil, and are easily
affected BY unfavorable weather. II Is
not best to plant till the soil gets war M
following Indian corn rather than goins
before.
If the best seed is had, ten or twelve
seeds to a hill are plenty TO guard agains
accidents etc. Haul little soil ovel
the manure, drop the seed on that anC
cover with one-half inch Of fine soil.
adapt these directions TO small growers
who wish to grow good crops; when
forty. 10 one hundred acres are grown
with only limited help, other modes
NAV be better, but no one should attemp
to grow this crop in any such proportion
to helpifhe expects to obtain the higheS
market price Tor his crop.
As soon as the plants are up. anC
the rows can be Observation-Disclosures
should be in twelve or fifteen days-be
gin to cultivate; don't wait for the
weeds 1t Is the corn wants the culture
Early culture gives the plants a start
and they grow all the better for it; fol
low the horse cultivator with the hand
hoe, carefully lreshening the soil in ant
about the hills and plants. 4 SECOND
dressing needs TO be given in ten t
twelve days when the plants should b'
thinned to six or eight no more thar
four to six should be allowed to mature
in hill. If the plants do not thrive tC
suit, give them a dressing Of ashes ant
plaster-gypsum-mixed. about
tablespoonful to the hill, at or before