The Springfield herald., 1912-07-05
RAISED BROOM CORN FOR
THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS.
tsy John R. Snyder AreoIa, III.>

During the past thirty-eight years
the writer has not missed a crop OF
broom corn. Sometimes seed is rails
ed by myself, and at other times
secured from reliable seed dealers in
Illinois.
My method of testing seed is to
take pan and an old woolen sock, or
rag of some kind, place in it about
one-hundred seeds, and pour warm
water over them, and then pour it Off
just so as to keep the covering wet
The seed will sprout in from twenty
four to thirty-six hours. If they Just
about all sprout, plant them, and il
not, seed is secured from someone
else, and tested in the same way until
the quality of seed is found that will
just about all sprout.
Forty to sixty seeds is planted to
the rod, and would prefer not to have
more than fifty, and over sixty ON
the ground. depending however. upon
the nature of the land on which the
broomcorn is to be grown.
The first breaking is done after the
oats is sown, and left lay until after
the Indian corn is planted, then from
June first to 18th, according to the
season, the ground is narrowed to
make it smoother so that the disc
will cut even. Should the ground be
run together and hard, it is well to
single disc, and sometimes double
disc across the breaking, then double
disc the straight way and harrow
until it is in fine shape. After this,
the planting is done and as general
rule the corn comes up with an even
stand, and continues to grow even.
After getting up, from one to three
inches, it should be rolled. This
makes the ground smooth and level
so that it does not cover up. When
about three to four inches high, an
eight shovel plow, or what is called
an eagle claw plow" is used and very
seldom ever plow more than twice.
This year my crop averaged ton to
three acres, with good brush, with
only one ploughing. If the ground Is
put in good order and not planted toe
early, two ploughings are enough. II
ploughed too often it makes the brush
grow rough and shorter.
Cutting should begin about. the time
the bloom begins to fall, and should
be hauled in and the seed threshed
off after it lays on the table one OF
two days, according to the weather
If the sun is very warm it should not
be allowed to lay on the table very
long, as it makes the brush very brit
tie, taking the life out of it, also the
weight; and color and weight should
be sought after.
The shed is 24x56 feet. ribbed up
seven inches apart, with 1 inch
strips, using 1a-inch pieces 81nehes
long to shelve the brush on.
Brush should be taken right from
the seeder to the shed, and shelved
up, left on the shelf until dry enough
to go in bulk, then taken from the
shelf, bulk down and butted down
we'll By bulking it makes the brush
hold the weight better, and better and
tighter bale is produced, and it stands
handling and shipping.
AS to the variety of seed. we have
planted the Tennessee Evergreen until
the last two years, when We planted
most of the Austrian, as it grows
longer and is a better color. How
ever, think the Tennessee Evergreen
are dry enough for the
brush to head out and to cut and she'd,
it is long enough, and just as green-
Forty-five or fifty years ago, we
used the hand cylinder, and We're com
PEELED to take the boots all off so
We could hold to it. Then the seed
was taken off, and we hardly ever
had any damaged brush on the
shelves, however, now tho majority
Of the growers are in too big a hurry.
and leave three-fourths of the boots
on and about half of the seed. and
place it in the shed too thick, there
fore resulting in a lot OF damaged
brush. If the boots and seeds were
Ill taken off as they should be it
would take one-fourth to one-third
less shed room. and tile boots and
seeds are what causes room corn to
leat.