The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-02-04
FACTORS GOVERNING GROWING OF
BROOM CORN.
Climate and Soil Leading Factors,
Broom Corn Semi-TrOpiCal Plant

Broom NOrn Senll'ITOpiCh' taht
The following article reprinted from
Farmers Bulletin No. TIA of the 0. S.
Department of Agriculture, on the
subject of Broom Corn will be OF in
terest to many who are considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of planting broom
corn the coming season. AS will be
seen this section of the country has
ideal climate for the raising OF this
plant. as it is a semi-tropical plant.
and the time that it takes it to mature
will bring its harvest in July or
August when the dry weather that
usually prevails at that time will be
exactly the kind OF weather needed
for harvesting the crop.
Climate and soil are the leading fac
tors that determine whether broom
corn can be proftably grown IN any
particular locality.
The growing season viii be 1ound
long enough in almost any part OF The
United States, since but from two TO
three months of good growing weather
is all that is needed to produce crop.
ANY soil that will produce a good
crop of corn is sufficiently fertile for
broom corn. For the best grades OF
fine, short, tough, dwarf broom corn,
light sandy soils have been founo
preferable, richer soils having a tend
ency to produce coarser brush. Fol
good crops of long standard brush a
fertile soil is required, but river bot
toms that are overlooked are unsatls'
factory, because deposited weed seec
J will give trouble when the broom corr
plants are Young and slow OF growth
Climate is perhaps a more poten
factor than is the soil, in determining
where broom corn can be grown sue
cessfully. The plant is sub-tropica
and does best in a warm, sunny Gil
mate. where there is sufficient rail-
during the early part OF the growing
season, to produce a strong, rape
growth. However, in order that u
crop may be harvested at the prope
} time and in good condition AID tn
} brush dried rapidly, so that it VIII re
, tain its fresh, green color, it is neces
I sary that warm. dry weather prevail
at harvest time. Localities where IRE
, ouent rains occur at the season whe
! broom corn would he ready to har
vest, will not be found suited TO thl
, crop. Dry weather at harvest is de
4 sirable for many farm crops, bu
Z with broom corn it is essential to tn
, production of good quality of brus
\ Rain at the time the corn should b
4 cut #ill cause much OF the straw to TX
, come red, thus reducing it's marke
value b. about one-half; or rain upo
z the crop after it has been cut wi
} cause it to bleach or lose its fres
\ green color and take on geilowls
y or dead color. Moreover, the hal
- vessting of the crop requires so man
men that it is essential to the .proh'
of the business for the work to COZ
tinue uninterruptedly, and this is in
possible unless dry weather prevail
at this season.
The above described conditions
soil and climate are those that ma!
the rich prairies of the Misslssip
Valley suited for growing standal
ee broom corn, and the lighter and Or
40 err soils of Kansas and Oklahou
N adapted to the dwarf varieties The
- are sections OF the United States whe
broom corn is not now grown, b
where the soil and climatic condition
are such that farmers with the prop
--- equipment and knowledge of the bus
ness, could produce large crops
brush of good quality. There a
also sections that now produce sma
quantities of poor brush that cou
produce an excellent quality If t
growers understood the proper met
DDS of cultivation and treatment al
the requirements of themarket.