Sep. 2, 1920.] 



y: 



igricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



643 



Baling. 



Veiy few farmers give this operation the attention it deserves. Grading 

 is very seldom practised, most of the millet being pressed into self-working 

 bales, composed of all grades, covers, hurl, in.iides, and bent and inferior 

 heads in various proportions. Farmers contend that grading into separate 

 bales not only necessitates extra labour and loss of time, but that the exti-a 

 price received for the graded article is not sufficiently encouraging to warrant 

 such treatment ; also that the self-working bale sells readilj^ enough. 



Several types of press are brought into use. They ai-e mostly hay presses 

 fitted with makeshift contrivances to suit the work. The most satisfactory 

 type is the box-press (an implement somewhat resembling a wool-press), 

 which keeps the butts even, 

 makes an attractive bale, and 

 is simple to operate. A bale 

 weighing approximately 2 J cwt. 

 is the usual size. 



Broom Making. 



Beside being a district where 

 broom millet is extensively 

 grown, the Manning is one of 

 the few centres that can boast 

 of a broom factory, one having 

 been established'at Tinonee some 

 nine years ago. 



As many as twelve different 

 types of broom are manufactured 

 at Tinonee. varying according to 

 the quality and quantity of brush 

 used and the class of finish de- 

 sired. For instance, a "domestic" 

 comprises the greatest quantity 

 of best-quality brush, braces, 



velvet and lock finish, and six rows of sewing, whereas a " four-hurl " broom 

 contains a smaller* quantity of brush of inferior quality and only three lines 

 of sewing, inferior finish and no locks. 



The main operations are briefly : — 



Bleaching. — The brush is placed in sulphur tanks to make the colour 

 uniform, to clean and bleach, and to destroy pests. 



Sorting. — This comprises grading into hurl, cover-s, and insides, and pre- 

 paring the hurl for the outside. 



Assembling. — Fixing the insides, then the shoulders (with covers), cover- 

 ing with inside and outside, and ^\•irillg. The broom is then ready for 

 sewincr, after which the ends are again hackled to remove stray seed or loose 

 fibre. This operation also helps to straighten the fibre. The ends are 

 "then cut level, and the brooms branded and packed into dozen lots. 



Locally Manufactured Brooms, Manning River. 



