HARVESTING BROOM-CORN 37 
be found a small percentage of crooked brush which 
must be sorted out before the crop is marketed. 
The amount of crooked brush is greatly increased 
if the harvesting is delayed until the seeds are well 
formed, since the weight of the seed may become 
sufficient to cause the straws to bend over just above 
the attachment to the 
stem, as shown at L, Fig- 
ure 3. The same result 
may be produced by wet 
weather just before har- 
vest time. The weight of 
water which clings to the 
heads may be sufficient to 
bend the straw down- 
ward. 
In regions where the 
seed is allowed to ripen 
the plants are broken over 
before the seed is formed, 
so that the heads may 
hang pendent and produce 
a straight brush as well "ig, 12, Smell paver sper fo 
as a crop of seed. 
The separation of the crooked brush from the 
straight heads can be accomplished most easily 
while the heads are in small piles in the field, where 
it is easy to distinguish the inferior material. The 
two grades resulting from this sorting should be 
handled and marketed separately, since a few 
crooked heads will lower the value of the entire 
kale. The crooked material will sell for about half 
