The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1900-05-24
PLANTING BROOM CORN
IT THIEVES BEST on THE LAND
WHERE OUR NATIVE CORN
GROWS BEST.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL
1t Must he Well Broken and Ma.
nured-Seed Make Good Feed
When Mixed With Oats.

Anls pLant IS variety OF sorghum
and . native of the East Indies. The
introduction Of this plant Is attributed
TO DIR. Franklin. who finding seed on
awhisk. broom that had boon imported,
planted IL. end from this originated the
culture of "broom corn" in the United
States. The average product of brush
per acre Is about 600 pounds. There has
been produced from very fine soil and
locality as high as 1000 pounds per
acre. AS there seems Co be NO substi.
tuEe for broom.corn brush, there is
always demand for IL. and it ia a crop
that can be easily cultivated. 1t is a
profitable one for the farmers to raise
In those sections to which il is well
adapted.
The seed makes a very good feed for
horses when mixed with oats. It is
also fine food for poultry. after the
chicks are two or three weeks old. when
led with other food. When ground
with our common Indian corn in pro.
portion to three bushels of broom corn
TO one of Indian corn, it makes good
FOOD for cattle, hogs or sheep.
Generally speaking, broom. corn grows
best where our native corn grows best,
and the preparation of the land is SINH.
Lar to that for corn. Good river or
branch bottom land is best suited to this
plant; but any good land, well drained,
will, with barnyard manure or q good
fertilizer. make good yield. The bet.
ter plan is to broadcast the manure,
plow and harrow the same so as to pull
verize. the soil thoroughly. Plant in the
drills or in hills.
The rows may be from three to four
feet, according to the variety to he
grown; the dwarf varieties in three.fes
rows and the larger varieties in four
feet rows. The hills may be two or
three feet apart When the seed are
sound and well ripened two quarts will
be sufficient to plant one acre. Be sure
to get good seed. You can use the seed.
drills that will plant small seed, or If
only few acres are to be planted, you
can plant with the hand. The cultivs-
ton is similar to that of corn. only you
have to use more care and skill because
of the smallness of the plant Thinning
should be done when the plants are two
or three inches high. leaving FIVE or six
in the hill, or il drilled, the stalks
should be left three or four inches apart
The time Of harvesting will depend
upon the use to be made of the crop.
When you plant only for the broom
corn brush, you may cut much earlier
than when the seed is one of the objects
sought. When the blossoms begin to
fall, you may begin your harvesting,
that is. if the brush is the object sought.
The quality of the brush is better when
cut on the green order, for the reason
that it makes the straw tough and gives
it live color, and accordingly com.
mands a better price in the market.
Before harvesting il ls customary to
break down the stalks, turning down
the tops of the stalks of two rows to.
wards each other. thus leaving a vacant
place for the laborer to work in cutting.
The stalks are broken about three feet
above the ground. and when the stalks
OF two rows are turned towards each
other. the stalks of one row will cross
those of the other in such q manner as
the tops will project about a foot on
each side.
Each two rows are then broken in
the same way until the crop has been
finished. This will leave q space
through which the harvester can pass
in cutting the brush, which is usually
done Immediately after the crop is
broken. The dwarf varieties do not re-
quire the breaking process, as the stalk
is low and the bunch is not so long and
heavy. Out the brush so as to leave
only or 10 inches of the stalk below it
and no leaves. These should be laid in
small bundles as cut and then gathered
up and placed under shelter. 1t 10 best
not to cure it in the sun. Do not allow
any rain to fall on the brush after out
ting. Cure in the shade, under shelter
II possible. When extensive crops are
grown special barns are built for this
purpose, with extensive shelving, so
that the air can pass through the brush,
that it may not mold or be damaged.
Where the brush is harvested green the
seed is generally separated from 1t be-
fore curing. This is done with hand
machine made for the purpose. 1t can
also be done by the grain threshing ma.
chine by holding the head to the cylin.
der and not permitting the brush to be
drawn in. The brooN corn stalk, when
cut at the proper time, makes a fairly
good coarse forage and compares favor
ably with corn stalk forage.
In preparing the broom corn brush for
market, 1t can either be baled in the com.
mon cotton press or in press for baline
hay. When the brush is baled in this