31 



be gathered. The brush is then cut, tied in small bundles and 

 carried in. The remainder of the stalks are burnt in the field 

 the ensuing spring, and some little advantage is supposed to be 

 derived from the ashes. Some farmers prefer, after gathering 

 the brush, to cut the stalks and lay them lengthwise in the 

 rows, and plough them immediately under. They will be en- 

 tirely decomposed by the ensuing spring. A still better mode 

 is to carry them into the cattle and sheep-yards, where they 

 become incorporated with the manure and make a valuable ad- 

 dition to the compost heap. I am satisfied from the experiment 

 of the Shakers, that if properly cured, they might be well ap- 

 plied to the feeding of young stock. It is deemed necessary 

 by the raisers of broom corn to connect with it the feeding and 

 fattening of cattle that the necessary manure may be procured 

 for the cultivation of this crop. 



It is considered a profitable crop when the brush will com- 

 mand five cents per pound. The price has been subject to 

 great fluctuations. Formerly, it was common for each farmer 

 to make his brush into brooms, and sell them when and where 

 he could. This was bad for all parties. It brought too many 

 competitors into the market, and often unduly depressed the 

 price. The buyers likewise were often obliged to put up with 

 an inferior article. The growing of the brush and the manu- 

 facture of the brooms are now in dilferent hands. The farmer, 

 as soon as his broom is ready for the market, finds in the man- 

 ufacturer a purchaser at a steady price ; and the manufacturer 

 knows that his reputation, and consequently his success like- 

 wise, is concerned in the quality of the article, which he fur- 

 nishes. 



The Shakers for a long time almost monopolized the raising 

 of the corn and the manufacture of brooms, which like other 

 manufactures of this industrious community, were always of 

 a superior quality and generally commanded a high price, usu- 

 ally thirty-seven and a half cents a-piece or more. Now, corn 

 brooms are frequently sold from eight to twenty-five cents ; 

 but many of them are, like Pindar's razors, " made to sell." 



