The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-01-12
THE BROOM CORN INDUSTRY.
Buif~tin GisinE Advice TO
Prospective Growers.

81. Louis. Jan. s--A special to the
.5Iobe-Denocrstt from Urbana. Ill,
saws:
The extremely high price q broom
corn has aroused public interest IN
this crop 10 such an extent that the
Ccuartnirnt of agron0mv ot the Uni-
Versity cs Illinois j. preparing a bull
letin upon broom corn raising IS
suitable industry for Illinois farmers.
Among the facts that will he brought
cut. and the conclusions reached, tn
following are some OF the most im-
uurtant:
broom corn is a close relative 81 l1aiar
corr and riourtShes under tne same con-
a.rir MS Illinois therefore T. well M1Apfru
to the production ~ the crop t~pHtttiiA
through th- middle portion ~ w s'.se
Th. .reuarattun OF the ground and tue
cultivation are much the same - Tor ~
dian corn. only Il must b. more th"ronsh-
To Frod..ea a ton OF broom corn under
faf- conditions requires about three acres
~ land Th.. cost ~ production under the
best conditions T. s. Ter tom and the ever
has Sold al low as So The crop requires
an immense fore AZ harvesting thr
tnreshing gang numbering not less than
twenty and the harvesting season at
tracts 10 the community as labCrers -
carmr followers swarm OF most undesir-
able characters
tools and sheds costing $50 20 loo. that
\ are 10 little or no value for other purposes
I The crop. a. best. = a prec-trious one thas
may be ruined By A few days % ba :
weather and its successful growth and
\ harvesting requires hi-h degree Of
II knowledge and special skill.
Z The worlds consumption OF brush IS
4 about 1lteu tons. and there can be nc
! sudden increase because u j. used for but
Il one purpose. This 5lep tons l. produced
4 on about ia 90 acres. or less than siN
1 townships OF land Two-thirds OF ths
i broom corn 81 the world Is grown IN four
( counties IN Illinois viz. Douglas. Coles
. M0ultrie and Edgar. with Arcola a. the
most important shipping point In favor,
/ able years these counties have produced
I -S.s. tons. or practically the Woril SUP
ply The territory and the men alreaty
gagged in broom corn growing. could
easily double The present production q
warranted By the demand
The present price Is ne result, nei ~
short crop but o: slight Increase Ia tn
activity ia A limited Industry. giving ris'
TO peculiar market conditions The grove
has not realized these prices. nor couls
! They have been established until after IN
crop was practically out % the hands o
the producer
< noyices will plant extensively the comin-
year. the result will be an enormous over
production OF brush. much Of which WI
be OF an inferior grade The producuoi
/ 81 broom corn IL ard will always be.
I little industry. because the demand IS no
only limited but small Isolated tndI
viduafs and those remote from recognize
methods are at a serious DISADVANTAGE 4
their Efforts 70 raise a crop. and shout
they fail in the endeavor their loss 1
certain to be considerable.
The university Is interested In the ex
tension Of every industry suited To lllinoi
conditions. and that will diversity IN
| agriculture OF the state but IL realize
tina. any considerable and sudden tncreas
in once that calls for special know'edgs
and for which the demand II limited
4 certain 10 result In loss TO the individual
and in serious damage 20 industry.
This Is not a favorable year 70 embar
In the business for the first time. and Tn
| prospective grower should visit the broor
| corn district and make careful study 9
4 the conditions before deciding to go int
| the industry even on q small scale
|, 1 - "a