Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-17

pose by giving a crop that may take
that has been drowned out earlier
in the season. The late planting of
this crop allows of its being used
for this purpose.
In the growing Of broomcorn any
soil suited to the production of corn
would be serviceable. This being
true, the silt loan soils of the CEN
trail Mississippi valley are probably
the best suited for heavy production
of any soils in the world. Central
Illinois produces from one-half to
three-fourths of all the broomcorn
of the world, while Kansas, Okla
homa and southern Texas make up
most of the remainder The stan
dard corn is grown chiefly in ILL.,
nois, while Kansas and Oklahoma
contribute the dwarf varieties.
The soils of these large producing
localities are quite different, but the
weather conditions at harvesting
time are really Of as great import
ance in profitable production as the
soil on which the corn grows.
1t is very important that the soil Of
any field intended for broom corn
should be uniform in quality. If a
field should have light or unproductive
spots, it would be unsuited for broom
corn growing since the corn on these
poorer places would fail to head with
the remainder of the field. Non-uni-
formfty of heading renders the hand
ling of the crop and the production of
a high quality of brush very difficult, if
not wholly impossible.
COST AND PROFIT OF THE CROP.
Broom corn up to the time of har-
vesting costs no more to produce than
does corn; but when we consider the
necessary expense attached to this
crop which begins with the harvesting
we find the cost of production increas-
ing rapidly. Experienced broomcorn
growers in central Illinois estimate
that apart from the cost of production
up to the time of harvesting 1t requires
not less than $3.50 per acre extra ex-
pense to carry the corn through the
necessary steps and place it in the bale.
Others say that with broomcorn at $75
per ton and corn at 80 cents per bushel,
TIC pAOAlb OL1 NIOp 10 IA1O SohiC.
The great risk of losing a crop be-
cause of bad weather, together with the
extra cost of harvesting, renders 1t i'm
perative for the grower to realize a
greater profit than can be secured from
corn.
THE VALUE OF THE SEED.
If the broomcorn were allowed to
ripen seed before it was harvested this
seed would then have a small feeding
value. AS it is, there is no use made
of the seed other than for manure.
Chickens will pick out a few Of the rip
er seed, and horses will occasionally
eat few, but generally speaking the
seed is worthless.
The very fact that it is impossible to
get a quart of ordinary broomcorn seed
together and keep it from heating will
indicate how immature this seed is at
the regular time of harvest. Dealers
in broomcorn seed must be familiar
with every detail of production, and
cial attention as regards ripening Even
when given this special attention be
fore harvesting it must be stored with
the greatest care to prevent deterior-
alton and loss. Almost the total sup
ply of seed comes from Coles and Dodg-
las counties in Illinois
Chief of the desirable features for
any locality adopting this as crop
are warm, mellow, fertile, corn soil, /
and season at harvesting time that is |
seldom visited by wet rainy weather.
Broomcorn is marketed wholly in the |
bale. Throughout central Illinois there |
are numerous jobbers and commission |
men who do nothing but handle this |
crop. Because of dishonest practices
n bailing, large dealers and factory |
operators are cautious about buying ex-
,ept from established and reputable