BROOM-CORN 



337 



delicate and grows slowly the first three weeks, necessitat- 

 ing greater care and skill. 



280. Time of harvesting. — In order to get a good green 

 color and tough, flexible brush, the corn must be cut quite 

 green, or just as soon as the brush has reached full growth. 

 The best time is when just past full bloom. 



If allowed to ripen, the brush loses color and becomes 

 brittle, and the selling price for such brush is often less 



Fig. 117. — Standard broom-corn, tabled and ready for hauling. 



than one-half that of high-grade stock. On the other 

 hand, when allowed to ripen, 10 to 20 bushels of seed per 

 acre is secured, which is valuable as a poultry and stock 

 food. It is generally conceded that the loss in value to the 

 brush is much greater than the value of the seed crop, 

 although in California the seed crop is quite generally 

 harvested ; but this is not customary in other places. 



Cutting the brush. — Dwarf broom-corn is usually 

 " pulled," while the standard type is " tabled " and cut. 



Dwarf varieties are short enough so that a man can 



easily reach the heads ; also, the base of the brush is 



inclosed in the " boot," which must be removed. When 



the crop is uniform enough so that ail can be pulled at one 



z 



