236 



FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



corn, as its name indicates, does not grow so tall, usually 

 only from 3J to 6 feet, and the brush varies in length from 

 12 to 22 inches. Brush from the standard varieties is 



used in the making of 

 large house or stable 

 brooms, while that 

 from the dwarf varie- 

 ties is used for the 

 making of whisk 

 brooms and other 

 small brooms and 

 brushes. 



237. Adaptation 

 and importance. 

 Broomcorn may be 

 grown on any soil 

 that will produce a 

 good crop of corn. 

 Extremely fertile soils, 

 however, produce a 

 coarse brush not de- 

 sirable for the best 

 brooms. Light, sandy 

 soils are well adapted 

 to growing the dwarf 

 varieties. The cli- 

 matic adaptations of 

 broomcorn are similar 



^ ^^ Qf ^ other 



sorghums, but localities in which frequent rains occur at 

 the time of harvest are not well adapted to this crop, 

 because rain at this time injures the quality of the brush. 

 Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, and Texas are the states 



FIG. 83. Dwarf and standard broomcorn. 



