2% BROOM-CORN AND BROOMS. 



merely rudimentary condition, and the brush at this 

 period is not only of the best color, but is heavier a mat- 

 ter of importance in selling and it is thought to be more 

 durable. The manner of harvesting differs with the va- 

 riety, and the treatment to procure a very green product 

 different from that where color is not so much regarded. 



HARVESTING THE DWARF CORN. Were it not for 

 the great difficulty of harvesting, the dwarf corn would 

 be much more generally cultivated than at present, as it 

 yields more largely than any other, and its brush is bet- 

 ter suited to some kinds of brooms. As stated in de- 

 scribing this variety, the base of the panicle, or lower 

 part of the brush, is closely surrounded by the sheath of 

 the upper leaf, or the "boot," as it is commonly called, 

 and only the upper portion protrudes ; in a rainy season 

 the accumulation of water in the boot often greatly in- 

 jures the quality of the brush, which becomes very gum- 

 my, and soon turns red. On account of this peculiar 

 manner of growth, it is found cheaper to harvest it by 

 pulling the brush out of the boot, with a sharp jerk, 

 than to cut first and remove the boot afterwards ; but at 

 best the harvesting is troublesome, and especially so after 

 the brush has become rain-soaked. 



LOPPING, BENDING, OR BREAKING. The old way of 

 harvesting, when the seeds were allowed to ripen, was to 

 first lop the brush. In this operation a man goes 

 through the rows and breaks down the tops, bending 

 those of two rows towards each other ; the distance be- 

 low the brush at which this is done varies from a foot to 

 18 inches. Though called "breaking," the stalk is not 

 severed, but bent over at as sharp an angle as may be, 

 without actually breaking it off. The object of this op- 

 eration is primarily fco keep the brush straight, as the 

 increasing weight of the seed, if this were not done, 

 would cause the brush to curve and become permanently 



