The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1904-01-14
BROOM CORN.
We have been asked:

What is the time for 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 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 paw
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 1.OOOI
pounds to the acre. When prepared
for the market and baled in either
common cotton press or in a press
for baling hay the prices range from
B to cents a pound, according to
quality.
The seed makes a very good feed
for horses when mixed with oats, and
is also fine for poultry especially for
young chicks past two or three weeks
old, when given with other food.
Broom corn is a 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, well drained, will, with barn
yard manure or a good fertilizer, give
good results. The preparation is sim.
| liar to that for corn. A we'll approved
| plan is to broadcast the manure, pillow
| it in, and harrow SO as to pulverize
the soil thoroughly and make good
seed-bed.
Plant in drills or in hills. The rows
may be from to 4 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-
quire 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
hill. II drilled, the stalks should be
left 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 tC
| fall, because the brush is better when
cut green, since the consequent tough
ness of the straw and its live color
will command better price in the
| market
With the tall varieties II 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 a 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
harvester can pass in cutting 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 it 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
well supplied with shelves so arranged
that the free passage of the air will
prevent the brush from being nodded
or damaged.
III the brush is harvested green, the
seed is generally separated from It
before curing, either with a hand ma.
chine made for the purpose, or by
holding the head of the brush to the
cylinder OF 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. Department of Agri.
culture.