The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-26
BROOM CORN CULTURE.

6NOOM COE&N NOL j URE.
Paper prepared by Mr.. Jesse W. johnson, of
Williamson county, for the armers' Lonven-
tion held at o umbia, Nov. Is, 1894
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
COnUeDtGOm:-I have noticed with
pleasure for some time, the interest
you are taking in agricultural products
and the better management of farming
in general, the raising of better crops
and the most economical and profitable
way of handling them. To secure the
best results, both to the producer and
the consumer, to be profitable interests
must be guarded and looked after. I
have thought it would be well, as the
crop is becoming more and more an
article of general culture, that would
give you few thoughts in regard to
the growing, harvesting and putting
upon the market "broom corn" The
preparation of the land and produc-
tiveness are the first requisites. The
land should be thoroughly broken with
a good two-horse ploW, drawn by
good team, just as early as the land is
in condition to plow; narrowed thor
oughly that all decaying matter may
decompose, and become food for the
crop, then again, just as early in the
spring as you are safe from frost, with
a good one-horse plow, two burrows
should be thrown together and with a
drag driven with one horse, two rows
should be knocked off. Then with good
One-horse drill, with roller attachment,
plant the seed not too deep, say to II
inches in the soil. The advantage of
the bed is quite feature, it enables
more early and cleaner cultivation,
which should be begun as soon as the
corn is Q or d inches up in growth.
This is important with this crop, as
with all others, to advance it as rapidly
as possible, in view Of drouth striking
it in the summer with small growth
and less root, with which to be sus-
tained. Then one other point should
be guarded, that you do not have it
too thick. 1t should stand in the row
about as your fingers would look when
holding them up, being too thick is
more detrimental than being a little
too thin in the former case.
The after culture is very simple, ex-
cept you must not neglect it and stop
working it too soon, as some imagine
that all that is necessary is to give it
up. You must cultivate it to get the
''brush" just as you would any corn,
and make the roots grow to sustain
the stalk and seed. It is a nice crop to
cultivate if properly attended to, and
on fairly good land that would yield
from 80 to 80 punches Of corn ought to
make from 700 to 800 pounds of corn
commanding the best market price.
The harvesting and threshing the crop
to rid the seed from husk, is simple
matter, and if carelessly done, may
greatly injure the selling value by
leaving seed and cutting irregularly, /
having some stems long and others
short, which makes an uneven sample
of brush.
Now you are to an important point
with the crop the drying and putting
it upon the market. The corn, if fair
day should be spread out upon sails
laid in regular order to have the days
sun, and that it should be carefully at
tended to that it is not too thick and
some of it remain green. It should be
carefully housed, as it will heat very
easily if too thick, or in too much bulk,
as it is cured you can begin to bulk
until you get a good large quantity in
a small space. You must not let it
mold or mildew. As soon as it is dry
you may begin to bundle it, putting it
in bundles of from 18 to 90 pounds.
Then you are ready for market.