The Charlotte Democrat., 1892-04-01
AGRICU LTU I'D AL.
Broom Corn.

W. W. Stell of Paris, Tex, on account
of the low price of cotton, wishes to
diversity his crops and asks for detailed
information about broom corn.
There was O time when bird brooms
did duty in this as well as in other lands,
but they are not wanted now to any con-
siderable extent. At the present day
broom-corn is not so profitable crop as
it once was. 1t will pay now for anyone
who has Or can secure the necessary
appliances and the skill to bring it into
shape.
In former papers reference has been
made to certain districts in New YORK
State, where special crops are grown, to-
witt The bean district, the peppermint
district, and we believe there is broom
corn district. At any rate, we know that
the famous Mohawk Valley, once the
great cornfeld of New York, is now de-
vote almost entirely to broom-corn.
Hence we argue that it pays better than
corn or maize. A good deal Of broom
corn is also grown in Illinois.
As to it's cultivation, we can say it
differs but little from that ofcommon corn.
Near Paris, Tex, April l, or thereabouts,
would bo quite early enough for to plant
it, The drill system is preferred before the
check-row. The rows should be 81 feet
wide, and there should be a plant to
every foot Of space in the row. On very
fertile soil land broom. corn requires the
most fertile soil) leave two plants to the
hill In all this there is nothing new or
remarkable. Cultivate three or four
times and keep free from weeds. A field
of broom corn looks very much like a
field of sorghum cane.
The object is to get large brush and
of the finest and most elastic fibre, and to
keep every fibre straight. When in
course of time the canes have headed out
and the seed is nearly or quite fully
mature, the whole top must be bent
down. 1t may be that immature tops
should remain standing until moro ripe,
and it may thus require two or even
three courses before all is bent down.
From twenty to twenty four inches
should be the length of top and fibre.
Of course, in a week or ten days the
after ripening of the seeds will be per-
feet.
Now the tops are ready to be cut off
straight. The tabling process is to have
qulC0 d HumUoE VI ldIRo UOdIuS W udhO q
long table (for want Of better name),
and here the brush is cured or so dried
out that the fbres will be straight and
stay So. To perfect the curing crib is
made whore all the crop is compactly
piled.
AS far as my memory serves me the
seeds are stripped in a contrivance some
thing like an old fashioned hetchel or
hackle, the fibre being the most important
part. The seeds are not valued highly.
But in economic times these seeds have
been ground and used for cakes like
buckwheat. They contained consider
able starch or sugar. Chickens and
other poultry will eat them when ground.
Cattle will also eat the meal as they do
that of the sorghum cane when mixed
with bran.
After all is completed the fibre with
top is baled in size one fourth that of
cotton bales or less, the canes or tops on
the outside and the fibre in the centre.
AS there are various sizes of brooms,
wisps and brushes no fibre need be re,
jected. All large cities, st. Louis
especially, have broom factories they
are also made in the asylums for the blind
by the unfortunates, who thereby earn
their maintenance, in part at least.-Ctas.
W. Murtteldt, in The Republic.