OTHER FARM CROPS 651 



name as a guaranty of the quality. The lower grades should be bar- 

 reled and sold by sample, or inspection, as usual. A can with a seal 

 cover is largely used by sugar-cane sirup makers. The stopper of 

 the can carries a rubber band, for use in sealing up the hot sirup. 

 It is claimed that' sirup, sealed while hot, can be kept for years, re- 

 taining the flavor of newmade sirup, with no fermentation. It is 

 not well to put fine sirup in leaky and stained second-hand barrels. 

 Many manufacturers take great pains to make their goods attractive 

 and put them in attractive packages. Sorghum-sirup makers should 

 follow their example. (F. B. 135.) 



(Additional References. Del. E. S. B. 39, 44, 51; S. C. E. S. 

 B. 88; B. C. B. 20, 34; N. J. E. S. B. 51.) 



BROOM CORN. 



Although there are a number of so-called varieties being grown 

 in various localities, the market knows but two sorts, standard and 

 dwarf. Most of the so-called varieties are names derived from local- 

 ities where broom corn has been successfully grown or seedsmen's 

 names. 



The Soil. While the soil that will produce good crops of corn 

 and sorghum may be depended upon for a good crop of broom 

 corn, it is very necessary that the previous treatment be such as will 

 as near as possible destroy the weed seeds that may be in the soil, 

 since the presence of weeds greatly interferes with the proper culti- 

 vation of the young broom corn plants and with their early growth. 

 Sandy or even gravelly soils are well suited to broom corn, but they 

 must be thoroughly drained. Undrained land not only induces an 

 irregular, slow and inferior growth but makes cultivation more diffi- 

 cult and causes the red color in the brush, which may reduce its 

 market value $20 or $40 per ton. Uniformity of soil character, fer- 

 tility and exposure, will induce uniformity in ripening. 



The Seed. The peculiar growth of the seed head of broom corn 

 is abnormal and artificially developed, mainly by seed selection. Its 

 value for the manufacture of brooms is due to the characters of the 

 panicle associated with this induced growth. That these artificially 

 developed characters may be reproduced and improved, careful selec- 

 tion of the seed is necessary, not only for one crop but for each crop. 

 There is a constant tendency towards reversion to undesirable form, 

 and seed from only the most desirable individual plants should be 

 reserved for planting, if the grower produces his own seed. The 

 majority, however, will purchase their seed of seedsmen. Unfortu- 

 nately the seed business affords almost an unlimited field for fraud. 

 The purchaser of seeds of whatsoever kind can best protect himself 

 by dealing only with firms of established and known reputation. 

 When the grower has become familiar with the many details of 

 broom corn culture it will probably be to his advantage to grow his 

 own seed if he is determined to give the matter the necessary care. 

 If he grows his seed in an isolated patch with good soil, good culti- 

 vation and careful selection he may improve the quality of his brush. 

 To do this it is necessary that the undesirable heads be removed be- 

 fore they blossom and pollenize the desirable ones, which alone 



