The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-08-05

pairing the soil, planting and cultivation.
Al that time it was suggested that later
on III the season il might be advisable.
70 discuss the methods OF harvesting
curing and hailinC the crop for marIel.
The following letter just received calls
my attention TO the necessity or complet
ing the original article ard furnishing
some information which may DO useful to
growers at this time
y. T. p, Cochran Ca juno -. Iq12-
| have an aero in broom corn which is
row heading out and Will kindly ask yeu
to please give me fun information in re-
gard to balance Of treatment for mar
ket. Also where is the best market TO
ship to- Please quote prices.
The harvesting. curing and hailing Of
broom corn for market is quite neat
job if done correctly and if not properly
saved and prepared the prices paid by
tho manufacturer Will not be aatisfac-
tory.
HARVESTING AND CURING
The greatest difficulty encountered by
the beginner in broom corn culture is in
determining when the brush is ready to
harvest. Experienced growers arc not Ell
ways agreed on this point some contend
ing that the heads should be cut while
in blossom and others prcfcrring to wait
later to secure wcl developed seed which
have considerable feeding value As a
general rule, however, tho most common
practice is to harvest Just after tho fall
Of tho blossom.
in harvesting bond down tho stalks Of
two rows diagonallv toward each other
in such way as that tho bent parts will
support each other in a nearly horizontal
position IN this way the stalks of one
row crossing diaEonally that Of the other
form a platform or table. Make the bond
in tho stalk about 3 fcet above ground.
This plan will project tho heads Of ono
row over and beyond the other row in
such manner that the cutter following be
hind will find it convenient to sever tho
hCads and lay them along the table. :
The heads should be cut with about
five inches OF the stalk left on and the
cutting should not be done when tho
plants are wet either from dew rain
Great care should be taken to preserve
the brush straight and smooth. Al
crooked or tangled brush should be care
fully sorted out. From the field tht
brush arc gathered up and hauled to the
scrapcrs Large growers purchase special
scrapire machines, that are driven by
horse power
For small quantities Of brush long
| toothed curry comb is 4 very good i'm
plcmcnt 10 thrash out tho secd with by
hand Another plan is to take ont the
concavc teeth in an ordinary thrashing
machine and let tho operator hold q
handful Of brush against The cylinder un-
til the seed arc removed. The brush
should be cured in tho shade. as oX-
posurc TO sun or rain injuries its color
and strength Racks made Of narrow
planks and laths should be constructed
undor sheds. and on these racks layers
Of brush three inches thick should be
laid. Whom cured tho brush should be
pressed into bales 46X3ox2i inches and
weighing 800 pounds. The haling may
also be done on q har machine. Place
tho butts evonlv a tho cnds Of the hale
and lap the pieces Of brush in tho middle.
| have no recent quotations on broom
corn II is worth from $50 TO 800 per
ton Write to the Atlanta Broom Fac
tory Atlanta. Ga, for prices and also
addresses of other broom factories with
whom you can communicates