HARVESTING BROOM-CORN 45 



The broom-corn is taken up from the bulk by 

 small arm loads and after butting the brush (Figure 

 14) it is passed to the man in the baler (Figure 16), 

 who builds up a double tier with the butt ends of the 

 brush to the outside and the tops lapping at the cen- 

 ter. After the pressure has been applied, heavy No. 

 9 wire is passed around the bale at five different 

 points. It is necessary to use large wire to prevent 

 the brush from being cut. The bale as it comes 

 from the press is usually about 45 inches in length 

 and width by 24 inches in thickness, and weighs 300 

 to 400 pounds, with an average of about 340 pounds. 

 Figure 17 shows the appearance of a properly con- 

 structed bale. 



With a crew of seven or eight men a good horse- 

 power baler will put up 10 tons per day. Manu- 

 facturers are becoming more exacting in their re- 

 quirements that the broom-corn which they buy 

 shall have been thoroughly seeded and properly 

 baled. An average-sized bale will make about 15 

 dozen brooms. 



