The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-03-08
TWENTY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN
GROWING BROOM CORN.
tsy Ira l.. MIlburu, Dormot, Kans.p

My experience in growing broom
corn covers period Of twenty years,
having planted the first crop in 1891.
Have raised crop every year since
then, with the exception of 1898,
when the crop was total failure,
owing to the dry weather. My small
est crop was one ton, and the largest
twenty-seven ton, The prices receiv'
ed have been all the way from $500
to $4,000 per ton. 1t has been by ex.
perience that any price less than
$4,000 per ton is losing proposition,
in this locality, as it is fifty miles to
railroad and costs about $500 per
ton freight to deliver broom corn to
the market.
1t depends on how much help a man
has, whether he should plant a large
or small crop, but consider that
twenty acres Is sufficient for one man
to handle.
The following is my method of rails
ing broom corn. The selection OF
seed is the most important. A patch
OF the best brush should be picked
out, cut out everything that does not
show pure and good seed Let 1t
stand until ripened, cut and keep 1t
separate from other brush.
Ground should be prepared by
either discing or listing in the winter,
any time that it is not freezing after
the first of January, which should be
followed by listing with blank listing.
The seed should be planted about the
first of May, beginning with certain
amount according to the acreage, and
continuing to plant about every two
weeks until the Goth, of June. This
makes the crop come on in better
shape, and gives more time to harvest
the crop.
In this country, we use what is call.
ed the Knife Sled, and the first thing
we do is to follow with the harrow.
In a week or two the ground should he
narrowed the second time, depending
however, on the rain and growth OF
the crop. When about knee high a
disk cultivator should be used, and
later, it is our custom to use -four
horses to lay the crop by. The weeds
very seldom bother after this time
Cutting should begin when the bloom
begins to fall, and continue until fin
shed The field should be gone ovel
twice, as the brush dosen't all ripper
for the frat cutting. Pile four rows
OF brush together, and mash down
bunch of sticks on which lay the
brush. This will keep 1t off Of the
broom corn The brush will be ready
to haul in and place in the rick, In
from two to five days, and is hauled
on a rack 2 X sixteen feet long, and
latter placed In ricks about thirty to
forty feet long. 1t should be placed
in the rick by laying the butts togeth
err placing the seed out and gradually
drawing 1t in until one layer wide on
top, after which | place bound cane
or some other kind Of feed to cover II
to keep dry and protect it from grow
ing.
Seeding can be done at any time
but should be done as soon as pos
sible after 1t is ricked. The Chain
Seeder is great deal faster than
the old style Hand Seeler, and after
the brush is seeded and bailed, II
should be stored in sheds until sold
About one quart Of good clean seed
per acre in our locality will apply to
both Standard and Dwarf. The selec-
ton OF seed Is the most essential Thing
in broom corn raising, and next a
through preparation of the seed bed
The more you can work your ground
before planting the better the brush
will be, and will not require as much
work later on. This method applies
TO Southwest Kansas, and may not
suit all localities.