MARKETING BROOM CORN. 5 



prior to removing the seed. Improper thrashing induces great waste, 

 but much of the waste in thrashing is unavoidable unless the brush 

 has been delivered in a satisfactory condition. It is obviously im- 

 possible at this stage of preparation for market, for thrashing crews 

 to take the time necessary to disentangle brush, or to remove foreign 

 and worthless material, such as husks, surplus stalks, spikes, burly 

 brush, and crooks. It is essential, therefore, that broom corn receive 

 the proper attention prior to its thrashing. 



PROPER FEEDING IMPORTANT. 



The importance of feeding broom corn into the feeder chain 

 properly should not be overlooked, because, once inserted, the brush 

 passes through without giving further opportunity to retain or 

 arrange it so as to remove any seed the cylinders fail to touch in 

 the regular operation. In feeding, the brush should be arranged so 

 that all seed to be removed must pass along not closer than 4 inches 

 to the chain. Broom corn of ordinary length has little or no seed 

 within 4 inches of the knuckle and this permits feeding so that 

 the feeder chain may engage the fiber just above the knuckle, thus 

 preserving the stems of the brush and preventing undue loss of 

 brush, which sometimes occurs when the stem has been engaged 

 by the feeder chain and crushed. The amount of brush fed should 

 be uniform. The cylinders will remove the seed better if the 

 layer of broom corn engaged is not too thick. Large handfuls 

 crowded in the feeder chain " slug " the machine and decrease the 

 speed for a moment and the central portions pass through poorly 

 thrashed. Best results are obtained by having sufficient help to fur- 

 nish the feeder a steady stream of brush about 2 inches deep and well 

 butted. 



OPERATING DEFICIENCIES. 



Machinery for thrashing is simple in construction and is easily 

 kept in proper condition, but it is often neglected and becomes the 

 source of much waste and poorly thrashed broom corn. Bent cylin- 

 der teeth or the loss of teeth hinder proper thrashing and loose bolts 

 are the forerunners of breakdowns, which cause loss of time to large 

 crews, allow brush to become overripe, and result in much waste. 

 The speed of the cylinder is an important factor in thrashing and 

 any inattention, resulting in too low or too high a speed, is detri- 

 mental. Too low a speed results in the heads passing through with- 

 out being sufficiently scraped. This is particularly true when the 

 seed is immature or chaffy. Too high a speed removes with the seed 

 the fine fiber on which it grows, destroying the full tip of the brush 

 so much desired by all broom manufacturers. 



No set rule can be given for the proper speed. It is governed en- 

 tirely by the condition of the broom corn and the size of the cylinder. 



