The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-01-04
Growing Broom Corn.
THE WAY TO PREPARE THE GROUND.

While there is considerable quanti-
ties of broom corn sown in certain sec
tlo ls,and we may say most generally on
small farms, there is undoubtedly room
for great deal more on farms large
and small, In the northwestern parts
of the state, in portions of New York,
New Jersey, Michigan and Ohio, the
increase in this crop of late years has
been quite considerable, and it will no
doubt go on increasing and prove
profitable branch of farming. In win.
ter, when out door work is impossible,
and there is but little indoor work to
do for the ordinary hands employed, it
is a common practice for our farmers
to manufacture their own brooms, and
with very little experience they can
make as good brooms as any to be pur-
chased in the market, and generally
much stronger. The handles are still
easier to prepare, there being cheap
machines by which they can be rapidly
made at a little cost and labor, and, as
we may say, at times when there is lit
tie else to do. On many farms M s..
the brooms and most generally the
profits of the crop go to them as pocket
money. This is very good way to
encourage the boys TO work and lay up
little store for the future, when il
may CONF a. helper very opportunely.
On man, !. ~ where broom corn is
raised, Ii !. 4, g With view to selling
the brush aud he seed, the former go
ing to the reg '.,r broom makers and
the latter feed TO fowls, etc, but this is
in the way of regular branch os farm
ing.
In cultlvating broom corn, the ground
is prepared as for 60 =, and the plant
ing is done Immediately after the lat
ter is through with. Broom corn is
sown in hills and drills, as may be de-
sired, but mostly in drills, The rows
should be about three and half feet
apart and when in drills the plants
stand about foot apart and in the
rows two feet. Three stalks to hill
are sufficient, and, when more, should
be reduced to this number, after sprout-
ing a couple of inches The seed should
not be covered quite as much as Indian
corn. The ground cannot be kept too
clear of weeds, and t. ground should
be well narrowed. The cultivation in
all respects is about the same Is other
corn. When the heads are in full
bloom, or little before, the crop
shoul i be harvested, the beginning of
which is the breaking over of the
brush, which breaking should take
place in the stalk about one foot from
the brush. The cutting off and gath
ering the heads should take place when
the seed is pretty well ripened. They
should be cut off with sharp knife
just above the upper joint. A wagon
cart should be at hand to carry away
the heads at once, and not allow them
to touch the ground Lay the heads
in the vehicle as they are cut off, and
all one way, and haul to dry shed
where shelves should be arranged
about eighteen inches apart. Some
growers place the heads in dry stacks,
TO remain until the seed is pretty hard,
when the seed is separated by an ordi-
nary threshing machine. The motion
of the machine should be reversed,
lunches should be held to the cylinder,
turning them back and forth until the
seed is all removed. 1t takes from
three to four quarts of seed per acre,
which ought to yield from seven to ten
hundred pounds of brush and from 80
TO 40 pounds of seed
We broach this subject now in order
that where the crop is all eady on the
farm, the seed may be selected in time
and the patch of ground selected
Germantown Telegraph.