AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 281 



rowed ; and the seed sown by a drill, in rows 3^ feet apart, as 

 early as the climate will permit. As soon as it is above ground 

 it is hoed, and soon after thinned, leaving the stalks 2 or 3 inch 

 es apart. It is only hoed in the rows to remove the weeds near 

 the plants ; the harrow and cultivator are then run through to 

 keep down the weeds, and a small double mould-board plow is 

 likewise used between the rows. It is not left to ripen but cut 

 green. Some persons lop the tops early, and let them hang 

 down to straighten : others leave it till nearly ready to cut. In 

 this case, one set of hands goes forward, and lops or bends the 

 tops on one side, and another follows and cuts them off when 

 bent ; a third gathers them into carts or wagons. At the Factoi y, 

 they are sorted over, and put in bunches, each bunch of brush 

 of equal length. The seed is then taken off by appropriate ma 

 chinery, worked either by hand or horse-power. The brush is 

 then spread thin to dry on racks, in buildings. In about a week 

 it can be packed away. The brooms are made in winter, at 

 about the rate of 75 dozen per acre. The stalks are left on the 

 ground to be plowed in for manure. The seed is used for feed 

 ing stock. (Albany Cultivator.) The average yield in New 

 York is 600 Ibs. per acre, at a cost of cultivating and securing 

 the crop of $10 or $12. (N. Y. Trans. 1849, p. 54.) 



624. Cost of a raising a crop of Broom-corn in Oswego County N. Y., 

 1846. ( Trans. N. Y. Agricul Socy. Vol. v, p. 340.) The soil was a rich 

 black loam ; the previous crop Indian Corn. The field low and wet with 

 blind ditches. The area is not mentioned. 



25 loads of manure, - - $3.13 



Hauling and spreading same, - 3.13 



Plowing 1 day, (with horses) 1.00 



Dragging &amp;gt;i day, 0.50 



Marking put ground for planting, 3 X Us feet, 0.50 



8 quarts of seed - 0.13 



Planting 5 days, at 50 cents, 2.50 



Dragging between rows % day, 0.50 



Hoeing and thinning, 8 to 10 stalks in a hill, 6 days, 3.00 



Dragging, 0.25 



Hoeing 4 days, - 2.00 



Tabling the corn, 5&amp;gt;, days, 2.75 



