The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-29
BROOM CORN CULTURE

QEebSeu.I - ~
BROOM CORN CULTURE.
Agricultural Editor Statesman;
Will you kindly inform me where
can get information on cultivation a
broom corn, castor bean and clint
less cotton" which it is claimed will
raise 400 bushels per acre of seed with
out lint. understand that broom
corn and castor beans are injurious t.
soil and expensive to harvest, beside
the stubble very rank.
Is there a market for beans ant
corn, and your opinion on investin.
In machinery for making broOms, and
addresses oil manufacturers?
The inquiry about "lintless cotton
was answered in this column las
week. as to broom corn am moi
prepared to advise its cultivation OIL
q large scale, not being posted as tt
it's market value or cost OF machinery
and labor in converting it into broOms
but believe that 1t can be grown a,
profitably here as in any part of the
country.
Any good corn land is good
for broom corn. 1t Is an
annual of the sugar cane
family. Here are two varieties
standard and dwarf. The fOrmel
grows from twelve to fifteen feet in
Eeight, and the latter from three tt
four feet. In some states the dwarf
is greatly preferred, as 1t is about
half brush. 1t is cultivated almost
exclusively for the brush; but its seed
and fodder are said to be valuable Of
cattle feed. The seed is said to Dc
equal to oats as sheep feed, and valu'
able for chickens.
The preparation of the soil Is the
same rs tor corn and planting should
be done as soon as the soil is SUM
ciently warmed as to produce qulcS
termination, or soon after corn plant
Ing. 1t may be planted In drills OF
hills. fin drills they should 90 Int
same width as for corn, and the seeo
should be dropped two or three incnes
apart or five or ten seed at Intervals
of about fifteen inches. Whenln mus
thew should be three fee! ana siA
inches apart, and thirty or forty seeus
to the hill. The thicker the plansi 1as
the finer the brush, but When Wv
). thick the brush will be too slenaeI'
The quantity of seed required depenu:,i
upon the syatem of planting ana wli a
vary from four to six quarts 10 Vne
acre. Cultivation should &c clean
and thorough, and begin as soom o.
the plants are well above glou th.
II should be thinned to a stand az VI.
first hoeing, leaving the planls ioul
inches apart in the drill, or flve OF Six
plants in the hill. +. uhon the
blossoms begin to fall. Ii Cus az %rms i
stage and properly cured .n e;oS in.
will retain a green color, m uar.
ereases its value in the market. H TO-
vestinS and curing are the most leu ,eas
Ions and extensive items, and uni ''' !.
nrnnar nrovision ia made for curing
ail previ.us labor will be lost inn
Dw arr corn is harvested ~ mi stand,
the brush out of the shealn, ou' , nat ia
ard varieties call for iopplIs, inches
Handing over the top at twelve lh %aaS
Below the brush till it hangs no ons
I Io,ym aoainst the stalk. This nas.1 inn
u 1890 and serves as o protec.lto a
from beating rain ana n,s straight,
helping to keep the oruI ~, nortance.
which is matter of first in VI, ad 90 as
The shed must be cons.luosu nable Of
70 admit air freely and be spSGTITb il,
W So: au closed against rain. . nuio
Delng o ',,mst be fitted Will n
sae%s IN which the 1 threa
is laid till cured, which IL s IT. trimmed of
or four weeks. 1t Is cneh aIas hound
the seed and packed In Dar 'arket
With wire and is ready TOR m tar Sroom
WIZ Tho rel il no local market lor 10 oi SoId
rn Ga II would have TO 10 '' in
oorn anu some commission man ,,ac.
s .nroag e. the bic cities or be maaui the
tured at home. l 40 nv OF broom
address of any Manufacture. a. editor of
making machinery, but I'll, M he able to
Farm implement News Will W
SIMPLY the information. ,. the stub.
There b, S1d is no ooru or castor beans ana Of
the they so are n Space will not bean 'u IN
ther reference to the caS'oi
this issue. ,npp1Es.
SOIL FOR srRAwBE BEL 81 Ground
that q Young man was ,, GtS'i an extra
or five inches thick WIZ, Unmarked:
"No." III; he replied, " 81; s : tssaaSuired.
ais lat the land poor?" +, | he eng Answered
"T To; d. why manure i in y ,m1S want to
asked in surprise. ~ II foliage AID
Z ga ssa an immense GROWTH 81 iona"
no a WHY. Mr.. c." quoting ,ans cannot be
700 oY yien . I replied, II nave sse him and
me but If you see to the