The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-04-26
Broom Corn.

culIOr OIL the ACIdnCa JOurual, PUBLISH
es the following interesting and in
structive chapter on broom corn, about
which some of our correspondents and
exchanges have had considerable to
say of late, as a possible profitable
crop for Florida. Mr.. Jordan writes:
Since the subject of diversfyng the pro-
ducts of the Southern farms has been SO gen.
orally insisted upon, in view of our failure to
make money on the one crop system, in
vestigations have unearthed many surprises in
relation to the moneyed resources of the
farm if properly developed. We find that
strong demand exists for numerous products of
farms, the supply being furnished by more
thrifty farmers of Northern Western states.
A short time ago we published letter from
Mr.. H. w. Hodge, proprietor of the Southern
Broom Mandatory, located in Atlanta, in
which he stated that all the broom corn from
which the brooms were manufactured came
from Tennessee and Illinois. There are similar
plants operating in the South, which are forced
to purchase their raw material from distant
states. 1t appears upon inquiry that highly
profitable price is paid producers for broom
corn, and that the demand is heavier tnan the
supply. Here, then, is opportunity for
many of our progressive, enterprising farmers,
who want to cut down their cotton acreage this
year, and devote the cultivation of these extra
to money making crop.
1t is said, and on good grounds, too, that
farmers forced to plant cotton because it
is their only strictly money crop. We have in
broom a product which is almost as
staple cotton, and for which there is
strong and healthy demand every day in the
year. Progress in the art of domestic house
cleaning has not yet advanced to the point
where brooms be dispensed with. We
still find the rich we'll as the poor using
them, and population rapidly increases the
demand for brooms will be greater. The soil of
Southern country is splendidly adapted to
the successful growing of broom corn and its
cultivation should soon be numbered among
the principal crops of our farms. Broom corn
is a member of the sorghum family, some va
rieties of which we have, in recent years. begun
to grow extensively for syrup, forage and
grain. All sorghums are strong, deep feeders
sending their rootets down into the subsoi1
and utilizing much of the natural plant foods
available there, which other surface feeding
crops, corn, oats, ETC., fail to extract. Broom
corn should, however, be planted more fer
tile soil and be highly fertilzed than the
ordinary sorghums planted only for forage
syrup.
There are number of varieties which afford
dissimilar products. From the dwarf variety is
produced the short brushes which manu-
featured into small brooms and whisks. They
are, however, difficult to harvest, and their Gull
tivation is limited Of larger varieties the
most popular, and giving the most general sat-
isfaction, is the evergreen. The bush of this
variety is longer straighter and brighter than
those of any other. In buying seed get only
those varieties which give the best and most
satisfactory results when placed the market
for sale.
The length and quality of the broom has
much to do with the price offered and the
ready sale to the manufacturer. 1t is graded
very much the same cotton, the higher
grades commanding better figures. Good seed
of the best varieties can be purchased from
reliable statesmen at four cents per pound. 1t
requires from four to five pounds to plant one
acre. The seed which will grow brush green
in color at harvest time is the most popular
and desirable Manufacturers place great
stress upon the color of the broom and its fiber
They want it cured so that its natural green
color is fully retained. They wish it fully un-
derstood that only good corn of fine fiber, and
the color stated, will be profitable to the
grower. In curing for market the grain must
be entirely removed, either by machinery or
careful hand thrashing. After the grain has
been removed and the fiber nicely cured, it
should then be packed in bales of merchantable
sizes, when it is ready for market. The method
of harvesting, cleaning and baling will not be