Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-06-02
THE FARM AND HOME.
MATTERso FlNTeResr ToFARM.
err AND HOUSEWIFE
Prominent Farm Journal Gives Di-
rections for Growing Broom Corn, a
Crop Which Seems to Yield Large
Proats-Points ON Testing Eggs.

Plow the ground to a depth Of i've
or six inches as early in spring as 1t is
in condition to be worked. Let it re-,
main untouched until about the last Of
May. or the 1st Of June. The weed
seeds will have sprouted by this time.
Go over the surface with q disk and
work 1t up thoroughly to a depth Of
BIB inches. Then harrow until the
ground is thoroughly %pulverized and
level. II the surface is damp, so that
a disk will not work we'll, use an eagle
claw c%ultivator for stirring the soil.
Clean the seed well and plant with an
ordinary two-horse planter. Almost any
Of the leading manufacturers of plant
ers will furnish extra plates for broom
corn free of charge. Adjust the planter
so that the rows will be 3 feet 4 inches
apart and set the sprocket wheel so
elat fifty or sixty grains will be drop
ped to a rod. When plants begin to
peep through the ground go over the
field with a roller, IL the surface is dry.
following with cultivators with very
small shovels. If the "a is very dry
use shallow cultivators throughout.
Have everything ready for removing
the seed before harvesting begins. En-
gines or horse powers can be used for
this. The seed remover can be attach
ed to the engine by means of a belt, the
same as a threshing machines. In
building the shed for use in working
up the broom corn crop. posts may be
set in the ground even or eight feet
apart, the whole rooted and the sides
boarded up with strips, three Inches
wide and about the same distance
apart. Shelves should be made about
six inches apart, using strips n inch
thick, two inches wide and eight feet
long.
When the broom orn is in blossom,
begin harvesting. After the shed is
ready and the machinery all in place,
take off your wagon boxes and put on
the broomcorn dump rack. In the fields
break the rows crosswise, making a
complete table, allowing the heads of
the brush to extend over the table six
or eight inches. With broomcorn
knives, which are in the shape Of shoe
knives, cut off the brush, leaving on
about six inches of stem. Lay the brush
on every other table as the cutter pro-
ceeds. 1t is best not to haul the brush
in while the dew or rain is on, and it is
also best not to leave it out too long to
bleach in the sun IL the weather is far.
Haul in md take off the seed every
evening from the lot that was harvest
ed during the day.
One man is necessary on each side Of
the wagon, to put on q load of broom
corn. The heads of the brush should
be laid out about four inches beyond
the edge of the rack platform. Build
up the sides of the load straight so that
it will not fall off. When properly
loaded, draw to the seed-removing ma
chine. Dump. off near the tables, and
make into punches. Drop the heads
downward on the table and thus even
up the small handfuls. These small
handfuls are held owe the seeder until
the seeds have all been removed, when
the brush is carried to the shed, placed
on shelves until it is thoroughly cured.
When well cured it is taken of the
shelves and stored in a dry place for
n week or ten days, until 1t is in condi-
tion to be baled. Harvesting broom
corn is n very tedious process, being
similar to the harvesting and curing of
tobacco. The green color must be re-
tanned as much as possible.-Orange
Judd Farmer.