The Springfield herald., 1912-04-12
PLANT pva1 sRooM CORN SEED
10y o. Z. Lewis. okIahom. city. ok.)

(0y q. Z. koWte, Oklahoma City, Ok.)
While II u conceded that Oklahoma
lssds IN the quantity produced, the
aAoaosaAao fact remains that the man.
uiacturors are forced to rely upon
ceotrsi Illinois and Kansas for quality.
The average farmer-influenced per.
haps By the price his neighbor re-
eeived for his brush-decides to plant
some broomcosn. Without giving the
matter further consideration. he goes
70 the neares& balee and procures sew.
esal sacks Of trash and infertile seed
that was thrasheA from his neighbor's
last years crop. This done. he pro
eesds to set apart few acres CT land
Deshaps . last years corn field yet
oeversd with, atalks-and, after plow.
ing Il once, plants 1t to broom corn
(D and awatts results. Under the
nesk favorable conditions more than
half . stand could not be expected.
and II the soil should be too cold the
small peresatase of fertile seed OBJ
tAined IN the trash" planted would
not gsrninate; the results being dis
courastAe and should be.
osms Timely Suggestions.
Having decided on the type best
sA.ptea 70 your soil. the next step
should b 70 procure seed Of the var.
isty wanted-and right here ! wish to
say that too much stress cannot be
laid % he Importance of planting
PURE sssA. as this is the prime re-
Qsisite. You. would not expect to
raise tAoseugAbred Poland China
from . pair Of broken-down "Ten.
nsssee fidgsrooters," would you?
Well, It 10 ~ well within the realms
ee psss1oilitiss to do this as it is to
produce = good quality of brush from
poor seed.
The psspa1Ation of the soil and the
tine for DSaAting should now claim
your attsntea. Next in Importance
to good sssd is getting the soil in
proper eso1ition to receive them.
Nsslp FsJqvsnt Cultivation.
TIE FIRST step in this direction
should ~ To- clear the field of all
stalks. sticks And other distractions.
- tAsss win grsatly interfere with
culsivatsse II not removed.
Defeee hrsaking the field should be
AisksA beeA ways. This, when turned
unAs1, fssns loose bed which con-
ssrvss 0esause aad fayoEs the rapid
(,rsst GpvaA S TIE yeung plants.
f1na NAt o1a14 EAsA A-.tAs
y,ants, are 3Gst coming up II IL con-
sjdsd advisahis, to harrow the field
lsnsthwise the rows to prevent weeds
gsttinx q start. Cultivation at fire.
qusnt intervals is neccassry until the
plants have attained a height OF
twelve OF fourteen inches. at which
time they will grow rapidly and
thrive with the same cultivation as
does Indian corn. Level culture
Chat il. no banking the soil to the
plants) seems to be most satisfactory.
and is therefore recommended.
Give Immediate Attention,
Another fact that should ever be
| borne in mind Is that broomcorn that
has stood in the field until the seed
matured does not bring the top mar
ket price. 1t follows that broomcorn
raised for seed should be entirely
separate because you cannot raise
both seed and brush on the same
stalk.
When broomcorn is ready for har-
vestine it should be given immediate
attention. as delay of two or three
days may cause damage that would
decrease the value SO per cent. Anoth'
or common cause OF loAs to the raiser
OF broomcorn is brought about
through ricking the brush in the field.
To do this is IN the humble opinion
of the writer, to invite seriuls results,
a. broomcorn thus handled is almost
sure to heat especially so if tsere be
any moisture. The heat thus generat'
ed destroys flexibility of the fiber,
rendering it brittle and discoloring it
to such an extent that no amount OF
treating" will restore its natural
color. The manufacturer can use
this brush only in the very cheapest
grade of brooms, therefore it does
not command good price.
Warm, dry weather should prevail
at harvest time (and in this locality
usually does) otherwise extreme eau
tiop must be used. Conditions being
favorable brush may be gathered
placed in small piles and left in the
field twenty-four to forty-eight hours
at which time it should be taken
directly to the seeder and seeded
WE'LL. 1t should then be placed in
the curing shed on the shelves pro
yided for that purpose. and when
thoroughly cured should be well and
securely baled.
Care In l8aIlng.
Great care should be exercised In
baling, however. as corn baled while
green will heat and reduce the value of
the brush to practically nothing.
The curing shed may be construct