Year: 1868

To the Editors OF the Banner.)


EDGEFIELD BROOM FACroRY,)


February II. 1868.


Gentlemen-We are in receipt of many
letters from the farmers of this and adioin-
ing States, requesting US to give them IN
struetions in referance to the culture, prep
GRAFTON and profits of growing broom corn.
In order to save as much time in answer
ing their very numerous communications,
and being desirous to contribute our mite
to the advancement and general prosperity
of our adopted State, induces US 20 ask the
use of your columns to assist US in dissem-
mating such information as will tend to a
proper knowledge of the best manner of
producing this very necessary and almost
indispensable article.


Broom corn, like most other crops, to
be grown to perfection must be planted in
rich clean land, but will do in any land that
will produce Indian corn well. 1t should
be prepared in the very best possible man
ner, thoroughly plowed deep and close, then
narrowed or dragged, until it is fine and
level, 10 order that the seed should be COW
cred as near the same debth as possible,
that it may get start at the same time
and insure even length brush, and prevent,
in great measure, its turning down or
growing crooked. Ifyour land is a. all iu-
clined to be foul, it is much easier to keep
clean by PLANTING in checks than in drills,
and can be done with very little labor, by
making a short sled of two-inch plank, four
/ feet wide, marking of two rows at time,
always strad ding the row so as to make
them two feet apart. Then take a small
shovel plow aud lay off your ground from
two and half to three feet apart, owing to
the strength of the land. Much care
should be taken to procure prime seed,
which should be prepared in the following
manner: Put the seed in a box and chop
it well with a sharp spade, then run il
through a tanning mill, blowing out all the
! light and chafy seed +; drop about fifteen
/ perfect seed in each hill, as near the same
/ debth as possible, which should be covered
about two inches deep with we'll pulverized
earth, and may be done with harrow fol-
! flowed by light brush. Cultivate as you
would Indian corn, and well, while it is
small, as it grows slow at the start but very
rapid when it gets little hold. 1t is i'm
possible to give instructions as to how thick
it should be set, but will bear, in good
/ land, from three to four stalks to the foot
at the distance apart, or as many as viii
make perfect stalks. 1t should be planted
at about the same season that you would
/ plant other corn. To make fine broom
corn it should be cut before it gets too ripe
or before it turns red, say when the seed /;
in the dough state. No breaking down i:
necessary until you are ready to harvest
then break down two rows at time, one a
cross the other so as to leave the brush o
one Just outside the other row. This We
call tabling. Cut the stalk from four to si1
inches long, being careful to strip off tht
blades. Lay on the table in punches, tax
ing care to keep it straight. What yoJ
cure one day should be tied up in bundles
with crooked brush and hauled in the next
the seed stripped off and spread thin OF
stats in a shed. Care should be taken tha
it does not mold, and to do this let it havt
plenty Of air.


To prepare for market depends upOr
here you ship. If far of it should bc
well bailed in a good press, and about tive
hundred and thirty pounds in a bale, tn,
J tops Of the brush just tapped enough tc