The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-02

cost of living has extended to brooms
Brooms cost about twice as much to-
day as they did few years ago. The
reason Is the advance in the cost of
broom straw caused by the short
crop.
Commissioner Watson is endeavor-
ing to have farmers in this State plant
broom straw. There hi been some
factories for the manufacture of
brooms in South Carolina, but for the
most part they have gone out of bus
mess. There used to be one near Co.
lumbia, and at Fairfax there was a
factory that had broom straw grow
ing right up to the door.
The advantage to the farmer from
planting broom straw, aside from the
actual profits. is that he may keep his
hands busy the year around.
Today Commissioner Watson sent
out the following:
State of South Carolina, Depart
ment of Agriculture, Commerce and
Industries, E. j. Watson, Commission
er:
Circular No. Z. Growing of Broom
Corn:
In Wow Of the many requests re-
ceived at this office from farmers in
the various portions of the State as
to where to get broom corn seed, as
to best varieties and as to the meth
DDS of cultivation and curing this
circular of information is issued.
The demand for information is
doubtless due to the very high prices
that have been for some time prevail
ing. making 1t necessary for local
broom factories to suspend operations
because of the cost Of the raw ma
terial and causing the prices
brooms to soar.
Some years ago an effort was made
TO introduce generally, in some por-
tions of South Carolina, the growing
OF broom corn as a cash crop, and
considerable success was met with. 1t
was demonstrated that broom corn of
superior quality could easily be grown
in almost any portion of the State,
and brooms were manufactured from
the native grown material. Owing to
the opening of new broom corn grow
ing territory chiefly in Oklahoma, and
the cheapness of raw material follow
ing, most of the undertakings were
abandoned. Conditions have changed
and broom corn growing and broom
manufacturing should prove most
profitable in this State henceforward.
Broom corn growers generally rec
ommend the securing Of seed from
the Funk Brothers Seed Company.
Bloomington, Ill.
Specific directions:
At the time of the effort mention
ed above to introduce this agricultural
industry in the State specific direc-
tions for broom corn growing were
prepared by one who had given local
conditions a careful study, they apply
now as well as at that time, and they
are Incorporated herein as informa-
tion to those concerned. They are as
follows:
Broom corn Is a variety Of sorghum
and has many qualities of ordinary
sorghum. Like sorghum in being
hardy, 1t is great resister and thrives
under reasonable circumstances.
1t can be planted at any time from
the opening of spring until as late as
July l, with fair assurance of a crop.
But as early harvesting and early
marketing are especially desirable, 1t
Is usually advisable to plant 1t as
early as Indian corn is planted or
from April 1 to Is. If planted by the
middle of April it will be ready to
harvest by about the 1st Of July.
There is usually a lull in farm work
about this time that makes it conven-
lent for broom corn harvest.
There are numerous methods of
planting IT. IL is planted in rows
checked and drilled. Drilling in rows
gives the best results. The rows
should be about three inches apart
In rows on ordinary upland and
little thicker on bottom land. If il
is planted two thick on good soil, the
heads become so heavy that their own
weight bends many of them down.
forming the crooks" This crooked
brush is heavy because it Is more diff
hcult To make into broOms and makes
larger bulk in shipping. 1t brings
only about half price on the mar
ket
owing to It's being n hardy plant,
the cultivation nf hroo,n cor, is ,f,n,