St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-01-18

BROOM CORN.
Harvesting and Curing.

Harvesting and Curing.
The chief difficulty encountered
oy the novice in broom corn cul-
lure is in determining when to
harvest the brush. Even experl
eDced growers are not unanimous
on that point, sometimes cutting
the heads while in blossom, and
others harvesting later 50 as to Oh
tain better deve.oped seeds possess
ing considerable nutril,ve value.
The u,ne generally preferred is
lust after the fail of the so-called
blossom (aulhers " hen the
saving of more matured seed is
consideration the head may be
bent down by sharply bending the
stalk at a polnt II to l8 inches be-
low the base OF the head. Thus
the seeds while filling hang down
and tend to keep the brush
straight. This ''lopping' If prac-
ticed at all, Is done after the head
has obtained its full length, but be-
fore the seeds acquire much weight.
II is not pracliced by large grow
ers.
A common custom with tall
varieties at time of harvesting is
to bend down the stalks of two
rows diagonally toward each
other in such manner that the bent
parts support each other III a
nearly horizontal position. The
stalks of one row cross dlagonally
those of the other and form a plat
form, or ::table.'' The break, or
rather the sharp bend, in the stalk
Is made about 2! or three feet
above the ground. The brush
borne on one row projects over and
hey ond the other row in position
convenient for the cutter who fol-
lows Immediately. The heads
with five inches Of stalks are LAID
ON the table, or platform, uut,l
they can be removed to a drying
shed. Cutting while the plants are
| wet with dew or ia II should be
avoided. The brush of dwarf va
rety is pulled, not cut. If the
season Is dry, rs the corn approach
rs maturity the brush remains
straight, but if the weather is
hot and damp ut this period the
straws are likely TO bend and To
tor,n crooked brush. In harvest
my and in cnrimg, great pains are
taken 70 keep the brush straight.
crooked or tangled brush is care
fully sorted out.
From The field the brush is taken
To tue scrapers, which remove the
seed. Large growers of broom
corn employ special scraping ma
chimes, consisting of two cylin-
ders provided with iron teeth and
usually driven by horse power.
The most complete s;rapers arc
provided with an automatic feed.
ing arrangement. With machines
the operator holds the seed end OF
a handful of brush against the cyl
inders until the seeds are removed
II Is stated that the ordinary
threshing machine, with concave
removed, has been used III simi
lar manner. For small quantltie
of brush log-toothed currycom'
or a wooden comb made By sawln!
teeth iu a pink has been used.
The brush should he cured in tn
shade, as exposure to the sun Q
moisture Injuries its color an
strength. Free circulation of air
necessary IN this process. Hence
when large quantities are to b
cured special curing house
thoroughly ventilated are Pre-
vided with racks made Of Darro
blanks and laths arc constructed
On these racks layers of brush al
laid 3 inches thick. Curing
continued until the brush will n,
heat when bulked or baled.
When cured the brush Is presst
into bales, usually 46 by so by
inches, and weighing about 3
pounds. The butts are place
/. evenly at the end of the bale al
! the pieces of brush lap in !
D middle.
\ The labor Of harvesting a
.~ro,doro hi q mr.