The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-05-04
GROWING BROOM CORN.
Clemson Extension WOrk-Articlc v.

Broom corn is a species Of sorgh-
um grown especially for it's tops
| which are used in manufacturing
| inquiry is frequently made by farm
ers and the following is written part
| ly in answer to such questions. 1t Is
not a great money crop, not more so
than cotton if equal to it, and re-
quires more in the way of equipment
for its handling, more labor at har-
vest time, and more skill in prepar-
| ing 1t for market than does the cot
ton crop. 1t Is a crop in which the
profits depend very largely upon the
quality of the product offered for
sale, the price ranging from SIS up
to about 500 per ton according to
the quality. Five hundred pounds of
fair yield.
The best quality broom corn
must be straight. of good length, fine
texture and cured in such a manner
as to be a good green color when put
| on the market. There are two kinds
grown. one known as the standard
broom corn and the other as dwarf.
| This latter is grown extensively in
the central west.
In order to secure the quality Of
| stalk mentioned above it is very i'm
| portant to have we'll bred seed and
| it is almost impossible to buy such
seed in the open markets. One going
into the business of growing the crop
| should begin at once to select seed
with the view of improving the
plants from year to year.
Any soil that will grow sorghum
will produce broom corn, and the fer
tilizer applied need not differ from
that used on the corn crop when the
same quality of land is cultivated.
Since the object in view is a uniform
product in quality and time of ma
turing. great care should be taken in
preparing the soil. 1t should be well
plowed and then narrowed and re-
narrowed until fine seed bed is Sc
cured.
Late planting is best on account of
the fact that the young plants make
a very slow growth when the weather
is at all cool, and the crop will come
into head at a season when there is
not liable to he much rain. The seed
should be fortified with a planter
that is adjusted TO drop a few more
five pounds per acre. and under such
conditions Of soil and season as viii
insure good and quick termination
cultivation similar to what the corr
crop requires is all that is necessary
Weeds and grass should always bs
% kept down and the soil mulched with
loose earth by frequent cultivation
with small tOothed implement. Or
land that will produce thirty or forty
bushels Of corn per acre one stalk o
broom corn should he left every foul
or five inches and thinner as the sol
becomes less productive. II is i'm
u portant to have full stand, as there
is a great tendency to sucker wheI
the plants are too thin on the lanC
and the brush from suckers is rare
" of any value, and il is not ready t.
harvest with the remainder of tn,
crop.
The tops should hc cut eight inches
! below the head when the bloom 4
u falling and before the seed arc GllcC
' out, if tho Aost quality of brush is oh
; t1incd. The brush is immcdiatcI,
hauled ont and tn" seed stripped of
To tho saruc day. The seed etrippiu-,
D ON large scale. Is done 10y machln
" cry that may Ice purchased from man
' ufncturcrs. ImprpEisod methods rilv
d the curry comb with long teeth or
- steel spiked comb attached 10
frame or side Of a box answers yer,