MARKETING BROOM CORN. 27 



In almost all sections where the Standard variety of broom corn 

 is grown, curing sheds (see fig. 2) are made available for the brush 

 as baled. Here it remains well protected, especially when the sheds 

 are boarded up on the sides most exposed to storms. While such 

 sheds are for temporary protection only, they may be the factor which 

 determines whether brush shall be of high or low quality, since 

 proper care at this stage of preparation is very important. 



In striking contrast are the storage facilities in the Dwarf pro- 

 ducing sections. " Open-air " storage is the prevailing method in 

 certain sections and is cheap, convenient, and often satisfactory for 

 concentrating this commodity pending shipment. Open-air storage 

 can not be recommended, but it is practiced extensively by farmers 

 and shippers where rainfall generally is light and where no special 

 attention has been given to shed curing. The actual loss on account 

 of this practice alone over a period of years is much less than is ordi- 

 narily supposed, for the brush often is not strictly first class when 

 baled. Western Dwarf is much more inclined to turn red than is 

 Standard. The growth often is not uniform and ordinarily does not 

 contain the high percentage of hurl that the eastern sections produce ; 

 and since " insides " generally need not be the perfect brush expected 

 for the " outsides " of fancy brooms, the material meets the demand 

 for a medium-grade product. The fact that " open-air " storage is 

 inexpensive prompts many to hesitate about building expensive sheds 

 or warehouses when they are not seriously inconvenienced by not hav- 

 ing them. Serious losses, however, occur when unfavorable weather 

 does come, and the experience of western growers in the season of 

 1920 will undoubtedly cause many to discontinue the practice of 

 taking chances when a suitable protection will insure them against 

 losses such as were then sustained. 



Open-air storage at shipping points (see PI. I, fig. 2) is also com- 

 mon in the Dwarf sections. At Elkhart, Kans., one of the largest 

 country-point markets, no pretense is made of housing broom corn 

 in warehouses, and the methods used at this market are typical of 

 those generally employed. Hundreds of bales are piled on the 

 ground, where they remain in the open until cars are procured for 

 shipping to terminal markets. Unfavorable weather during this 

 time is detrimental and interferes materially in shipping. 



There are few country-point markets where warehouses are avail- 

 able for storing broom corn. The bulk is bought for shipment as 

 soon as cars can be procured, and if there is no place to store it is 

 kept on the farms until it can be shipped. The fact that storage 

 is needed only for temporary use has discouraged the building of 

 expensive warehouses, especially if they can not be utilized for 

 other purposes throughout the year. This has been found a serious 



