The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-06-09

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We have been preparing to gather data
regarding broom corn, aud will give such
information as comes to US for what it il
worth. Following is an extract from q
letter written by C. S. Culver, of Buck
lin, to J. L. Trebilcock, who is putting
in a lot of broom corn. ssFor old ground,
the best way is to list like corn. 81 feet
apart and from to 6 inches apart in the
row. It is as sure a crop as any land the
best sod crop, yielding about ton to
three acres. Two and three years ago
received seventy dollars Der ton on track
at Bucklin. Last year did not do so we'll,
as had dwarf. 1 consider the STANDARD
Missouri or Tennessee Evergreen the
most profitable. Plant now, keep clean
and leave ground smooth to facilitate
gathering. Cut when in bloom. Cure
in the shade, being careful not to get too
thick or it will heat. The best way is to
'scrape" Immediately on hauling from
the field. You need barn or large, we'll
ventilated sheds. Put in about 250
pound bales, we'll wired.''
We have information that in Hask ell
Seward and Stevens counties they handle
very successfully in the fields without
sheds, by simply covering to keep off the
sun. Following letter gives further de-
tails concerni ng curing in the field.
LIBERAL, KANSAS, May Both. 1893.
W. c. SHINN, Esq. Dodge City.
DEAR SIR:-Your favor to Liberal
Tyre was handed me for reply. We
have been planting Missouri Evergreen
broom corn, but have recently purchased
a sack of japanese Dwarf, which we
shall plant this year in addition to regu-
lar planting of Missouri Evergreen. We
plant from May lst to July 18th, though
the latest planting may be frosted before
you get it cut, which frosting does not
materially injure it, however. Broom
corn is a good sod crop; but get your
sod smooth as possible, SO the seed will
be covered uniform depth and come up
and mature evenly, so as not to necessi-
tate two cuttings, which is expensive.
The same suggestion applies to old
ground crop. The cultivation needed is
same as corn or sorghum on like grounds.
A bushel of seed will plant about thirty
acres. l plant with Deere or Brown
planters (any planter is good) with drill
(self-dropping, of course, } attachments.
Same width between rows as corn or sOr-
ghum. Put your seed through a coarse
sieve to get out anything that might
choke planter. At harvest time, you cut
with shoe knives, and before going into
harvest. take a trip east or west and see
how it is done, especially as regards sta
bling" or not. One man cuts two rows
and two men drop together in even
punches. 1t lies on the ground a Gay or
two, when it is sufficiently cured to rick,
when two men with team and wagon
with fiat rack on, gather up the punches
and haul to ricking ground. With SHOW
ell 1 throw up ridges three or four inches
high, and twenty inches wide, and fifty
feet long, about six feet from middle to
middle. On the ridge lay about four
to six inches deep of broom corn, heads
all one way and even as possible.
Lengthwise this layer lay single broom
corn stalks, to prevent tangling in subse-
quent handling. Then l lay another
layer reversed and so on, alternating the
heads of each successive layer until the
rick is p or three feet high, when 1 cut
broom corn stalks enough to set up over
the ricks to protect from sun and show
ers. These stalks should interlock above
the ricks. In ordinary weather broom
corn so ricked is ready to hull and bale
in two weeks. The hulling and baling
1 have hi.ed done at &c per ton, which
is big price. So have no money in
vested in machinery. At &c per ton 1
furnish the men, except three with the
machine, to do the work. When the
machine man furnishes all the help they
dharge S12 per ton for ordinary jobs.
Back east they often harvest the crop,
cut, rick, hull and bale at $3.50 to $50
per ton. Last year sold entire crop at
seventy dollars per ton free on board at
Liberal. On sod a ton from five to six
acres is good crop. On old ground a
ton to three or four acres is good crop.
Truly, H. V. NICHOLS.
BROOM CORN CULTURE.