BROOM CORN. 177 



CHAPTER XL 



MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS OF CULTIVATION. 



BROOM CORN (Sorghum sacckaratum.) 



So far as we are acquainted with its history, this is a pro- 

 duct peculiar to America. In its early growth and -general 

 appearance it resembles Indian com. It stands perfectly up- 

 right at a height of ten feet or more, with a stalk of nearly 

 uniform size throughout, from which an occasional leaf ap- 

 pears ; and at the top a long, compact bunch of slender, grace- 

 ful stems is thrown out, familiarly termed the brush, which 

 sustain the st,ed at and near their extremities. 



SOIL. The best soil for raising broom corn, is similar to 

 that required for Indian corn or maize. It should be rich, 

 warm, loamy land, not liable to early or late frosts. Spring 

 frosts injure broom corn more than maize, as the roots do 

 not strike so deep, nor has it the power of recovering from 

 the effects of frost equal to the latter. The best crops are usu- 

 ally raised on a green sward, turned over as late as possible 

 in the fall, so as to kill the worms. Clay lands are not 

 suitable for it. 



MANURE. Hog or sheep manure is best, and rotten bet- 

 ter than unfermented. If the land is in good condition, three 

 cords, or eight loads to the acre is sufficient. This is usually 

 placed in hills and 12 to 15 bushels of ashes per acre may be 

 added with great advantage. Plaster is beneficial at the rate 

 of two to four bushels per acre. The addition of slacked 

 lime helps the ground, affords food to the crop, and is des- 

 tructive to worms. Poudrette at the rate of a gill or so to 

 each hill at planting, or guano at the rate of a table-spoonful 

 per hill, if the African, or two-thirds the quantity if Peruvian, 

 mixed into a compost with ten times its quantity of good soil, 

 is an excellent application, especially if tho land is not in 

 G* 



