BROOM CORN. 325 



four or five clays, if the weather is favorable, the seed will 

 germinate and the grass-like blades will make their appear- 

 ance above ground. The after-cultivation is easy, by using 

 the walking cultivator, and its growth is so rapid that it 

 will not be necessary to go over it more than twice, if the 

 ground is well harrowed before planting. By using this 

 implement and a seed drill, one hand can easily cultivate 

 thirty acres, and, even more, if .he calls in assistance in pre- 

 paring the land, for with a cultivator one row is plowed 

 each time going across the field. So, with two horses, one 

 man will clean well seven or eight acres per day. Of course* 

 without these improved implements, and with less careful 

 tillage, the crop would come down to ten or twelve acres 

 per hand. 



The time of planting, is from the middle of April to the 

 middle of June. It must not be planted while there is 

 danger of frost, and if it is delayed too long, the dry weather 

 will lessen the product. 



As before stated, the best time to harvest the crop, is 

 when the seeds are in the milk state, or, at furthest, in the 

 dough state. At this period, the straw is light-colored and 

 bright, arid will bring the maximum price. If the cutting 

 is delayed until ripe, the straw becomes more brittle, and 

 assumes a red color, and that kind always brings the mini- 

 mum price, and besides is not so strong or durable. 



And now begins the real labor of the crop. The old 

 plan was to bend the corn down, three or four feet from 

 the ground, and leave it thus four or five days to dry. 

 But in this way, the work of after-harvesting is increased, 

 and besides, the straw will become, to a great extent, bent 

 or twisted, and this, also, detracts from its value. Now* 

 the common custom is to "table it," and this process is per- 

 formed in the following manner: 



It requires the united work of four hands to expedite the 

 job, though any number can work at it. One hand on 

 each row will break the stalk off, or rather bend it about 



