246 FIELD CROPS 



tral Illinois than elsewhere. It requires a fertile soil and 

 plenty of moisture, while dwarf broomcorn produces brush 

 of the best quaUty on light sandy land. Dwarf broomcorn 

 resists drought better than the standard, and is grown most 

 extensively in Kansas and Oklahoma. The usual width be- 

 tween rows of the standard is 3J/^ feet, with the plants 3 

 inches apart in the row; dwarf broomcorn is planted in rows 

 3 feet apart with the plants 2 inches apart in the row. From 

 3 to 5 pounds of seed are planted to the acre. 



313. Harvesting. Dwarf broomcorn is harvested by 

 pulling the heads from the stalks bj^ hand when they are in 

 bloom, as the brush is of inferior quality when the seeds 

 mature. The brush is then thrown into wagons and hauled 

 to the thresher. Standard broomcorn is harvested by 

 ''tabHng" before the heads are removed from the stalks. 

 In tabling, the stalks are bent oVer about 2)^ feet from the 

 ground, two rows being bent together so that the heads of 

 each extend about 2 feet beyond the other. The brush is 

 removed by cutting the stalk with a small knife, about 6 

 inches below the base of the head. The heads are laid in 

 bunches on the "tables" as they are cut and are then hauled 

 to the thresher. The seed is removed from the brush by a 

 machine specially built for the purpose. The heads are 

 carried to the cylinders on a toothed belt which runs at an 

 angle to them so that the heads do not go completely between 

 them. The upper portion of the heads passes between the 

 cylinders sufficiently to remove the seed, and the brush is 

 deposited on a table at the other end of the machine, from 

 which it is taken to the curing shed. In harvesting, poorly 

 formed heads should be left in the field, while crooked or 

 discolored brush should be sorted out in threshing. 



314. Curing and Marketing. The curing is done in a 

 well- ventilated shed which may be used for storing machinery 

 or for other purposes during most of the year. The cleaned 

 brush is placed on temporary slatted racks in layers 2 or 3 



