264 FIELD CROPS 



each extend about 2 feet beyond the other. The brush is 

 removed by cutting the stalk with a small knife, about 6 

 inches below the base of the head. The heads are laid in 

 bunches on the " tables" as they are cut and are then hauled 

 to the thrasher. The seed is removed from the brush by a 

 machine specially built for the purpose. The heads are 

 carried to the cylinders on a toothed belt which runs at an 

 angle to them so that the heads do not go completely between 

 them. The upper portion of the heads passes between the 

 cylinders sufficiently to remove the seed, and the brush is 

 deposited on a table at the other end of the machine, from 

 which it is taken to the curing shed. In harvesting, poorly 

 formed heads should be left in the field, while crooked or 

 discolored brush should be sorted out in thrashing. 



328. Curing and Marketing. The curing is done in a 

 well-ventilated shed which may be used for storing machinery 

 or for other purposes during most of the year. The cleaned 

 brush is placed on temporary slatted racks in layers 2 or 3 

 inches deep, with an inch or two of air space between the 

 layers. Curing under cover is necessary to retain the 

 desirable green color of the brush, and to prevent it from 

 becoming brittle or discolored. From two to four weeks of 

 dry weather are required for curing, after which the brush 

 should be neatly piled together or " bulked" to prevent 

 bleaching. After it is thoroughly dry, it is ready for baling. 

 Broomcorn goes to market in bales of from 300 to 400 pounds 

 in weight, the baling being done by horse-power presses. 

 The price varies greatly with the size of the total crop and 

 the length and quality of the brush. It ranges ordinarily 

 from $50 to $100 a ton, though it may reach $200 or more in 

 years when the crop is short. A good crop of dwarf brush is 

 about 400 or 500 pounds to the acre, while standard broom- 

 corn will produce from 600 to 800 pounds. 



