Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1903-12-22
BROOM CORN.
We have been asked:

Wnat Is the tlme IOr planting broom
corn?
And again Does it pay to raise
broom corn in Georgia?
Our answer to the first question is
that the best ime for planting broom
corn in Georgia is near the first OF
April.
TO the second question, we would
answer that it is a profitable crop to
raise in sections well suited it. AS
there seems to be no substitute for
the broom corn brush, and as there is
always demand for it, it will pay
well to raise it where the farmer has
the space and time. The average pro-
duction is about 500 pounds to the
acre, though real good soil has been
known to produce as high as 1000
pounds to the acre. When prepared
for the market and baled In either
a common cotton press or in o press
for baling hay, the prices range from
s. to cents pound, according to
quality.
The seed makes very good feed
for horses when mixed with oats, and
Is also fine Tor poultry, especially for
young chicks past two or three week.:
old. when given with other food
Broom corn is variety OF sorghum,
and grows best where our common
corn thrives well. Good river or branch
bottom land suit it best, but any good
Land, we'll drained, will, with barn
yard manure or a good fertilizer, give
good results. The preparation is sim.
liar to that for corn. A well approved
plan is to broadcast the manure, pillow
1t in, and harrow so as to pulverize
the soil thoroughly and make a good
keed-bed.
Plant in drills or in hills. The rows
may be from 3 to feet apart, accord.
ing to variety grown; three feet apart
for the dwarf varieties and four feet
for the larger ones. The hills may be
two or three feet apart The seed, II
sound and well ripened, will not re,
qulre more than two quarts, to the
acre. The cultivation is similar to
that of corn, except that there is
need OF more care and skill on account
OF the plant Thinning should be
done when the plants are two or three
inches high, leaving five or SIX in the
nil. If drilled, the stalks should be
lett three or four inches apart.
II the farmer has planted for the
sake OF the brush, the time for harvest
ing is when the blossoms begin to
fall, because the brush is better when
cut green, since the consequent tough.
ness of the straw and it's live color
will command a better price in the
market.
With the tall varieties it is customary
before harvesting it to break down the
stalks about three feet above the
ground, turning the tops of the stalks
OF two rows towards each other. The
stalks will cross each other in such
a manner that the tops will project
about foot on each side. Each two
rows will be treated in this way until
the crop has been finished.
Through the spaces thus left, the
brush, which is usually done immedi.
ately after the crop is broken.
The dwarf varieties do not need the
breaking process since the stalk is
low.
In cutting the brush leave only 8
or 10 inches of the stalk below it and
no leaves. When cut, they should be
gathered in small bundles and placed
under shelter, because 1t is better not
to cure them in the sun, and the rain
should not fall on them after they
have been cut.
When very large crops of broom
corn are grown, special barns are built
for storing and curing. These are
we'll supplied with shelves so arranged
that the free passage of the air will
prevent the brush from being nodded
or damaged.
If the brush is harvested green. the
seed is generally separated from it
before curing, either with hand ma.
chine made for the purpose, or by
holding the head of the brush to the
cylinder OF a grain threshing machine
and not permitting the brush to lbe
drawn in.
The stalk of the broom corn when
cut at the proper time, makes a fair.
ly good coarse forage, comparing fav.
orably with our common corn-staik
forage.-Georgia Department of Agri
culture.