Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-01-01

Broom corn being or tropical or
igin. we find here in the Lover Rio
Grande country an ideal climate for
the development Of this plant. Here
II attains the highest stage OF per
lection. The nature OF the plant Is
10 reproduce itself from the seed.
BY cutting II of just at the top
Of the ground or a little below. a.
soon ~ the matnred heads have
been harvested II will reproduce IA.
self one or two times. making bru.h
almost as good as the first cutting.
However. II must b. cut as above
stated TO prevent Its making too
many shoots on suckers. We have IA
longer seeding time here than IN
% other district In the United
States beng from February rs.
20 September lst-though the best
time Tor the planting Il March lst
20 June 20. While this IA consid-
cred a dry land crop. II aiso pro-
duees here the heaviest yields under
irrigation o. any district In the
United States. We know fields OF
more than ~ acres that average 500
pounds the first cutting. anu 600
lbs. the second cuttlng--the first
crop selling for 8 IL ats per ~.
in New York City.
Broom corn comes Maturity
much quicker In this climate than in
northern states Varieties hat re-
quire from 80 to 10 days in the
north TO mature ready for harvest
are ready here In S. 10 rs days:
second cutting In GO 10 SO days.
Curing In this climate is accom-
plished with much less labor and
expense than In northern states. In
stead Of placing on the top OF the
tables. as we call II the heads as
cut are placed under in small
punches In the shade 10 cure whore
Il Is protected from the sun, and
also. from the dew az night. II viii
usually cure in three days sufficient
ly TO stack In bulk. The top OF the
stack may be protected from expo
sure until threshing time by a load
OF stalks or a canvass. 7 can say IN
this way IL keeps much better than
on Stats In sheds. a. our nights usu-
ally are very damp causing 1t to
dircoior Nhere II Il exposed 10
drafts.
Broom corn may Be- left standing
here until the seed has well matured
and the brush still retain a bright
green color. AS the seed Il yalua-
bic feed for ali stock and fowls ID
adds an additional profit to the
growing Of the crop. Well matured
seed makes near two tons to one ton
OF brush. which Is valued at sI2 so
90 SIS per ton. For seven months
We fed Il TO work mules without any
other grain ration. with very good
results. Have fed II 70 hens for
over a ear and never been Il Of
eggs Soured II makes excellent hog
feed. In fact the seed nearly pays
for all labor connected with the
growing Of the crop. We need In
this country a few old broom corn
growers. who thoroughly under
stand the growing or the crop. Men
that are up to date with the thrash
err and baler.
Some that have tried the crop here
are dissatisfied. but we believe the
cause on their failure can be attrib-
uted to ignorance Of the best meth
DDS OF handling II. In my case | adj
init this fact. IL Is true the price
of broom corn - very fluctuating.
but al the same time a good grade
always finds il ready market. One
OF the most essential things to Sc
cure the grade l. good seed. Better
pay 10 cents a pound for good seed
than 70 plant poor seed II il costs
o nothing From 4 to 4 l-2
pounds will plant an acre. Buy
from a reliable dealer or from a
grove that makes a speciality OF
growing seed.
hope you will find space to pub
fish this article a. II may b. on
benefit 70 some OF the valley farm
ers who wish 70 plant some OF the
crop. Any other information in my
possession will be gladly furnished