The record-union., 1894-09-29

The stage of its development at which
broom corn should be harvested depends
upon the use that is To be made of the
crop. If fine quality of brush is wanted
it must be cut as soon as the blossoms fall.
This, with proper curing, will give brush
Of green color, and which will be both
strong and flexible. If the seed is allowed
to ripen the brush will be of a reddish
color, its quality will be impaired, and its
weight will be diminished. If seed is
desired the stalks may be tabled while
the kernels are soft. but the cutting
should be delayed until the ripening pro-
cess is completed. 1t is, however, neces-
sary that the harvesting be done before
frost comes.
In order to facilitate the work of cut
ting, the stalks are tabled, i. g., broken
over, from two TO three feet above the
ground, tuning two rows toward each
other so that they will cross diagonally
and form sort OF table or platform.
The tops are cut with a sharp, thin bladed
knife, from six to nine inches below the
bush, and laid in small punches on the
tables. For convenince in loading upon
wagon, it is best to place them on each
alternate table. Dwarf varieties do not
need to be tabled. The tops are pulled
from the sheath instead of being cut.
If the crop is grown for brush the seed
Is removed at once. This is usually done
by power machine made for the pur-
pose, or Dy holding the tops against the
cylinder of an ordinary thresher without
allowing the stalks to pass through, but q
small quantity may be cleaned by hand
with retehet, or with 'scraper" made
for the purpose.
Curing should be done in the shade,
where there Is a free circulation of air
without exposure TO storms. This. be-
cause either sunlight or rain will injure
both the color and the quality of the
brush. Small quantities can be stored on
a scatfold in the barn, or in a shed, but
large growers need Especial curing-house
fitted up with poles or racks, and with
IN ans for closing in wet weather and for
controlling ventilation at all times. When
so dry that no sap appears if the stalks
are twisted close to the brush, the crop
may be packed in bulk or be put in bales
oil about 800 pounds each, Unless it has
already been done the brush should be
sorted when it is packed, all the crooked
or otherwise defective heads being kept
by themselves. During all the process of
curing, and while the crop is stored, care
should be taken TO keep the brush from
injury by rats and mice.
III the crop is grown especially for brush
the seed Will be so small and immature as
TO be worth little or nothing except for
manure. If the seed is ripened it will be
useful for feeding, in connection with
other grain, to nearly all classes of do
mestic animals, but it should always be
either cooked or ground. When sepa-
rated from the brush it should be thinly
spread, and occasionally stirred, in order
10 prevent heating.
The yield of brush varies from 300 to
LOCO pounds per acre, but 900 or 700
pounds may be considered a good CROP
The yield Of seed per acre, when the crop
IS grown for that purpose, varies from
thIrty-hve TO 100 bushels, but does not
often exceed sixty bushels. 1t weighs
about forty pounds per bushel.
After the tops are removed the stalks
should be cut near the ground so that
they viii not interfere with the future
cultivation of the land. 1t is q somewhat
common custom to burn them, but q
better way of disposing OF them is to
plow them under for manure.-American
Farmer and Farm News.
FANCY FARMER.
He came into our neighborhood from
the city and bought run down farm and
built nice house on it and settled down
as farmer, not because he needed to till
the soil for living, but because he
wanted something to do to kill time and
imagined he would like to be a farmer
AS money was not the object sought he
had an OUTFIT that was the envy of the
whole lot Of us who only had money to
buy tools as we dug il out by hard
knocks and gathered it in small amounts
because of low prices. The new neighbor
seemed to be pretty good sort of fell
low and soon established himself on
friendly basis with the people in the
neighborhood. He subscribed for half
dozen farm papers, and Joined our
Farmers Club, and when he was put on
duty prepared and read very nice paper
that was source OF amusement to us
fellows, who knew all about it, for a
month afterwards. He built fences and
grubbed out bushes and worked like a
good fellow till from pale and puny
chap he got 10 be a pretty solid kind of a
chap who could really do a good DAYS
work. His farming was all OF the kind
that is usually called fancy" because it
was done in the neatest and most COM
plete manner.
We watched his operations with great
interest, and made frequent comments
on his turnlps that were to cost ''ouar-
ter" each, and the milk from his JERSEYS
that was produced at a similar price.
This sort OF thing went on for year or
two, and we were certain that he could
not possibly be making money-he was
so particular-though we could see thai
his 1arm was improving in looks all the
time. Finally we got little ashamed of
the untdy corners OF our own farms and
began TO clean them up. Strangers who
came along asked first about the nice
farm over by the creek, and every man
who came along wanting TO buy farm
stopped there tue first thing. Finally it
began TO dawn on all of us that our
"lsncy tarmer' was making money in
the increased value of his farm if he was
not on his crops; noticed that he got the
Top price for everything be sold and when
1CTh q T1v tslr hnr. 4 =,
one OF our club meetings he showed that
he saved pretty penny in this way and
buying in large quantities.
At later club meeting he brought q
set of books along and showed us how he
kept an account with his farm, and knew
Just where he stood as far as finances
stood all the time. This was new thing
90 us, and the most astonishing thing was
chat he had not lost any money in the two
years, but had actually made about as
much as any of us, and had added st least
90 per cent. to the value of his farm by
cleaning up, draining it and putting the
fences in repair. Then he told us of some
of the failures he had made and how
much they had cost him, and by the time
meeting adjourned we were all OF one
opinion. We concluded that we might
have a worse neighbor than fancy
farmer. He has lived with us for tive
wears now and he knows much more
about farming than he did when he first
began, and so do the rest of us. He will
no doubt be surprised to see this open
confession in this paper. but want your
readers to know that fancy farmer may
be of great benefit to a neighborhood
even if his mistakes only point out what
not to do.-Frank Deane in American
Farmer and Farm News
FEEDING FOWLS.
1t may be thought to be matter OF
very little importance whether the flock
is fed at certain hour or not, but it is
really necessary for the good health OF