Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-11-09

WITHIN the last year or two it has
come to be generally recognized that
broom corn is one of the staple crops
of western Kansas. 1t is a reasonably
sure crop and the product is of the high
est order. The following is from a
correspondent in the X. c. Star and,
thinking it might contain some points
on we reproduce it:
SIN your Kansas notes Of Septem-
Der %, | read the following: Western
Kansas will raise twenty-five tons of
broom corn to the acre, and it is
worth $50 per ton To those who
known anything about growing broom
corn it is evident that the writer
knew nothing about broom corn. Me
PhersOn county has been the banner
broom corn county Of the state. both
for yield and quality. This is cOnced-
ed by the broom corn dealers and
manufacturers. 1t is not uncommon
for buyers to pay from So to so per
ton more for our corn than for broom
corn in Illinois. although the freight
is So to SIS more per ton from here to
the eastern market. The undersigned
and many of his neighbOrs have been
growing broom corn in Kansas for
twenty-five years, and we consider a
yield of ton on three acres a very
good crop. For the country at large
it generally requires five acres to grow
ton. Not since our land was new
has the county averaged a ton to every
four acres and there have been years
when it took eight acres and more to
grow a ton.
'Now about the cost of raising
broom corn. Average figures gather
ed from twenty broom corn growers
having from three to fifteen years ex-
perience, place the cost of a ton of
broom corn, baled and at the nearest
railway station ready for shipping, at
1885. This estimate includes $3.50
for rent for each acre Of ground, but
incidentalS will likely run the cost
close to $50. This | deem a fair aver
age cost of producing ton of broom
corn. A good yield, which can only
be had on the best ground, will cost
less, a poor yield more.
Kansas will have less than an aver
age crop of broom corn this year,
about 1880 tons being the total yield
Last year 5000 tons were grown, but
in 1893 the crop exceeded $4,000 tons
An average crop for Kansas is about
10000 tons. Nebraska will have less
than an average crop. Missouri is re
ported as above average, but acreage
too small to cut much figure. Okla
hOma will have from 1000 to ,, 500
tons more than last year, quality gen.
orally poor. Texas has a small in
crease. The average for the four
states and the territory named, it
will be seen, is below normal. Illinois
will have an average crop of good
quality and the total for the United
j. States should be as large as usual.
What prices may be expected for
this years crop? During the last two
years broom makers have not used the
normel amount and have been run
ming their machines at half speed
But the time for a reaction is at hand
and manufacturers should take nearly
the full crop. If this be realized the
price of broom corn will not remain
below the cost of production. as it is
now. But should the manufacturers
not make more brooms than during
the last two years the tonnage will be
nearly twice the tonnage of the de-
mand and we will be forced to.sell be-
low cost or hold over and decrease the
production. But a decrease in pro
duction is not to be expected, as new
territory is opened every year, and
those having no experience in grow
ing broom corn want to try it. Seed
to plant an acre costs but very little
and the growing of broom corn gives
employment during time when
many farmers have nothing to do.
Of Interest to Pensioners.