240 CULTURE OF BROOM-CORX IX THE UNITED STATES, 



berry township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, raising the corn and manu- 

 facturing the broom. After a few years he took Bezaliel Croasdale into 

 partnership, and they jointly had the trade altogether in their hands, until 

 1815 or 1816, making the brooms, and entirely supplying the markets of 

 Philadelphia, Baltimore, Lancaster, Trenton, and sometimes New York. 

 A broom made in those days would be a curiosity to a modern broom- 

 maker. Invariably round, with horn on the neck instead of twine, confined 

 to its place by a wooden peg and handle of oak, rough shaved with a 

 drawing knife. The brooms thus made commanded a high price, particu- 

 larly during the war, when they sold for 4£ dollars per dozen wholesale. 

 Since that time the business has gradually increased, employing a great 

 number of hands, and a large capital to carry it on in its various stages. 



Some idea of the present extent of the trade in the Philadelphia district 

 may be formed from the fact, that in one manufactory in the town of Ben- 

 salem, about 300,000 handles were made last season, and this number is 

 probably not more than a fourth of the whole number made and used in 

 that district. These handles are sold at 1 dol. 30 cents to 1 dol. 40 cents 

 per hundred. The value of the twine used on very broom is estimated at 

 half a cent, and the labour for making two cents. 



The dealers in New York are principally supplied from Schenectady, in 

 that State ; although the towns of Headley and Hatfield, in Massachusetts, 

 furnish a considerable number yearly. It may afford some idea of the 

 extent of the business to mention, that one firm in New York sell annually 

 about 70,000 dozen brooms, manufactured in Schenectady, and 10,000 dozen 

 manufactured in Massachusetts. Most of the brooms manufactured in 

 Massachusetts find a market in Boston. There are half a dozen houses in 

 the city of New York dealing largely in brooms ; they are principally in 

 Fulton- street. 



The ordinary brooms have sold recently as high as 17 dols. per hundred. 

 This is the Schenectady manufacture. In the Massachusetts manufacture, 

 the corn is fastened upon the handle with a small wire, instead of stout 

 twine, and the article, consequently, is not considered so valuable. A few 

 years since, brooms which now bring the above price, could be bought at 

 from 8 to 12 dols. per hundred. Latterly brooms have been sold by 

 weight, at from 8 to 11 cents per pound. The average weight is a pound 

 and a half. 



The broom-corn used in this manufacture is raised principally in the 

 valleys of the Mohawk and the Connecticut. The soil of the bottoms along 

 those rivers possess certain characteristics highly favourable to the growth 

 of this agricultural product. Although the labour attending its cultivation 

 is great, it is considered a valuable crop, being more hardy than maize, and 

 less liable to injury from frost. It was a good deal cultivated in the 

 Genesee Valley a few years ago, and is now to some extent ; but the pro- 

 duct goes to supply western and local markets. Large quantities of brooms 

 are made in the lower parts of Bucks and Montgomery counties, and the 

 upper townships of Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania. Many are also 



