MARKETING BROOM CORN. 7 



brooms. If allowed to remain, it interferes also with the uniform 

 dyeing of the brush. It must be removed at the factory with hand- fed 

 thrashers before the manufacturing process can be completed. This 

 results in a duplication of labor, and additional expense is entailed in 

 hauling this waste material from the factory. The freight charges 

 are increased on account of the seed which is shipped to market with 

 the brush. These additional costs obviously lessen the profit derived 

 from the industry and are reflected in lowered prices for the raw 

 material. 



CURING. 



Climatic conditions have been largely responsible for the marked 

 difference in the methods of curing the two varieties of broom corn. 

 The Dwarf variety for the most part is grown in higher and drier 

 altitudes than the Standard, and, owing to the limited rainfall, is less 

 likely to be seriously damaged during the harvest. The possibility of 

 ricking in the open and postponing the thrashing until other farm 

 work demands less attention is inviting to growers in these sections 

 and has been practiced rather extensively in preference to shed curing. 



RICK CURING. 



Rick curing is practiced extensively and is the preferred method 

 where sheds are not available, but is far from satisfactory and fre- 

 quently the losses sustained in one season from weather damage alone 

 are as great as the cost of erecting suitable protection. Broom corn 

 should be sheltered from sunlight and rain. Rick curing does not 

 have these advantages and is not recommended where best results are 

 desired. The brush must undergo a partial curing in the field, and if 

 ricked too green it invariably molds. If the brush does not become 

 weather-stained, the surface of the small piles bleaches more than the 

 interior, and the color is not uniform. This is noticeable in the bale, 

 which, when marketed, brings a lower price. 



As a precaution against weather damage the entire rick should be 

 thatched with broom-corn stalks or other material. When thus shel- 

 tered broom corn sustains comparatively little damage from weather, 

 unless severe storms occur. (See PI. Ill, fig. 2.) 



A method of outdoor curing which many consider much better than 

 ordinary ricking is coming into use in some sections. A suitable 

 frame for shelving the brush, similar in construction to that shown 

 in figure 1, is provided. Layers of broom corn are placed between 

 the slats, the lowest being filled first. A layer is next placed in the 

 space provided just above, and so on, until the rack or frame is 

 covered. By this method ample circulation of air is provided, thus 

 permitting the shelving of corn that is comparatively green. With 

 favorable weather the material is cured quickly. 



