MARKETING BROOM CORN. 



9 



for the purpose should be erected. A typical broom-corn curing shed 

 is shown in figure 2. 



Whatever the method employed in curing, the essential thing is to 

 arrange the brush while green in thin layers away from rain and the 

 direct rays of the sun and where winds will not disarrange it. It 

 must be thoroughly dried. No attempt should be made to bale until 

 the stems will break readily under pressure of the fingers. 



KILN DBYING. 



Another method of curing is kiln drying, which follows a wilting 

 period of a day or two. This method is still in the experimental 

 stage and as yet is confined to the districts in southern Texas. To 

 facilitate quick drying a plan for artificially heating the broom 

 corn is being perfected. A brief description of one of the plants 

 will best serve to describe the process (see plate IV, fig. 1) . 



Fig. 2. — A typical curing shed for broom corn. 



The drying room consists of an airtight compartment about 20 

 by 70 feet and 8 feet in height. This room is asbestos lined to 

 retain the heat. Beneath the floor, throughout the length of the 

 room, extend two large flues, through which hot air is conducted to 

 openings in the floor, which permit the hot air to enter the drying 

 room at designated places. At the top of the room at one end are 

 openings to allow the air to return to the heating chamber. 



The heating chamber, which contains several hundred feet of 

 steam-heated pipe and is equipped with blowers, is connected with 

 the flues that pass under the drying chamber and also with the 

 return flues that carry the air back from the drying chamber. Thus 

 there is provided a means for a complete circulation of heated air 

 from the blowers, around the heating coils, into the drying chamber 

 and back again to the blowers. Provision is made at the top of the 

 69894°— 22— Bull. 1019 2 



