328 CEREALS. 



for the shrinkage consequent upon early cutting. Besides 

 the net profit, much of the expense will go into the farmer's 

 own pocket, as most of the work, or all of it, will be done 

 by the ordinary labor necessary to carry on the farm. So, 

 really, the profit of a crop of broom-corn is fully equal to 

 that of any other crop now planted in the State, and great- 

 ly surpasses many of them. Several objects must be kept 

 constantly in view in the culture of broom-corn: 



1. Cut and cure it as green as possible, consistent with 

 the ripening crop. 



2. Handle neatly and do not cut the stalks too long that 

 go with the brush. 



3. Dry thoroughly as possible to prevent moulding, the 

 succulent pith greatly favoring it. 



4. Bale tightly, and in all cases trim the ends of the bales 

 with as much precision as possible, a ragged, jagged bale 

 never bringing its value. 



There is another view to be taken of broom-corn. No 

 farmer who carries on a farm of any size, whether with 

 hired labor or with his own sons, but finds many unem- 

 ployed days during the summer and winter, both from in- 

 clemency of the weather and other causes. Let him raise, 

 in addition to his market crops, a few acres of broom-corn 

 for home manufacture. The cold, rainy days, and long, 

 tedious nights of winter can be passed in making brooms. 

 "With special care he can always count on one ton of good 

 straw, all raised by his own labor. One ton of brush 

 will make from 1,200 to 1,300 brooms. The wire, handles, 

 braces and twine in one broom will average three cents. 

 The cost of a complete outfit for making brooms, the best 

 machines, is fifty dollars. Two hands will make one broom 

 every five minutes, so that, after supper, until nine o'clock, 

 two hands will turn out not less than two dozen brooms, 

 worth at this time, $2.50 per dozen, sometimes $3.00. If he 

 would take the trouble to retail them, he would receive 

 $5.00 per dozen. In this manner, without losing any time 



