CHAPTER XXIX 



BROOM-CORN 



Broom-corn belongs to the non-saccharine sorghums, 

 resembling Shallu or Kowhang more than others. It is 

 characterized by very short rachis and long, slender, 

 seed-bearing branches. The plant is grown principally 

 for the seed head, or " brush," having practically no forage 

 value. 



273. Historical. — The origin of broom-corn is not 

 known, though it was cultivated and used for making 

 brooms two hundred and fifty years ago ' in Italy, where 

 it apparently had its first general culture. References are 

 made to its culture in the United States about the year 

 1800. The following statement appears regarding it in 

 a book entitled " The Pennsylvania Farmer," published 

 in 1804 : 2 "A useful plant, the cheapest and best for 

 making brooms, velvet whisks, etc. The grain for poultry, 

 etc., a few hills or rows of it in the garden or cornfield 

 suffice for family purposes." 



While its value was thus recognized, its culture did not 

 become important until several decades later. 



274. Statistics of culture. — During the past forty 

 years, broom-corn culture has developed rapidly, as shown 

 by the crop harvested for the past three census years : — 



Yeab Pounds 



1879 29,480,106 



1889 38,557,429 



1899 90,947,370 



' Mentioned by Casper Bauhin as used for this purpose in 1658. 



2 Twelfth Census. Vol. VI, Part II, p. 519. 



331 



