439 
THE RURAt NEW-YORKER 
April 2. 
BROOM CORN AND BROOM MAKING. 
Wc used to plant a few rows each 
year in the cornfield and have enough 
made into brooms by a laborer living 
nearby to keep us in brooms, and also 
relatives who appreciated a serviceable 
article. We planted the seed in drills 
or hills as the corn was planted, usually 
in drills, three seeds 15 inches apart. 
After the seed had formed and two or 
three weeks before harvesting, the top 
cr “straw” was broken down, so that 
the weight of the seed would straighten 
the straws all out nicely. We usually 
tried to harvest before it became very 
ripe, as we thought the ripe straw more 
coarse and brittle than when a little 
green. After drying in a shady place, 
the seeds were thrashed by striking 
against some object or beating with a 
stick. It was then tied into convenient 
bundles and, when it suited, which was 
some day when the team passed the 
laborer’s home, the bundles were loaded 
on the wagon, left at the man’s shop, 
and in the course of events one-half of 
the brooms made from our “straw” 
were brought to us, the maker keeping 
one-half for his labor, wire, handles, etc. 
I know I am paying 40 to 50 cents each 
for brooms not half as good as those 
made from corn we raised. They have 
varnished handles and a few rings, but 
little corn in the broom. j. F. E. 
Easton, Pa. 
First, use good seed. My choice rs 
Evergreen. Sow in drills three or 3^2 
feet apart. When large enough, thin 
to six or eight inches. Any good corn 
land may be used. Bottom lands or 
river flats are best. Cultivate often 
and shallow. When seed starts to set it 
must be tabled or broken over anywhere 
above last joint, leave about five inches 
of stalk on brush, then tassel or brush 
hangs down and grows straight. Cut 
while green above last joint. It should 
then be cured in open sheds. Do not 
allow it to mold. When well dried, it 
should be thrashed or scraped. Any 
cylinder may be used. A roller five by 
10, with lots of ten-penny nails in it 
with heads cut off will do. This must 
revolve very fast. Hold brush on this 
scraper in handfuls, holding by the 
stems. The seed should be saved for 
feed. At the present time one acre 
should bring $290. This is the way to 
raise broom corn. Machinery to make 
brooms can be bought second hand for 
$20 to $50. Mine cost about $15. A 
good broom-maker should be hired to 
start you at the work. I worked in a 
factory to learn. f. s. 
Iiayts Corners, N. Y. 
As to growing broom corn and the 
making of brooms for home use, it is 
not altogether a lost art in this section, 
as about 50 per cent of the farmers 
grow their own supply of broom corn, 
and have their brooms made by local 
broom-makers, of which we have quite 
a number who apply their time during 
Winter and bad days to good advantage 
either making them for so much a 
broom or on shares. We have always 
grown enough for our own use and 
some to sell, but have not grown it to 
a commercial extent. Any land that 
will grow corn or potatoes and where 
the season is long enough for corn, will 
do for broom corn; the cultivation is the 
same as for corn that is drilled for 
jnCOBSON 
SELF-CONTAINED ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC DRAINING 
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No Large Water Tank 
The Agency is available in some sections and 
valuable in all. 
JACOBSON MACHINE MFG. CO. 
Ill Irvine Street Warren, Pa. 
silage, but the main thing is the right 
variety, there being as much difference 
in the varieties of broom corn as in most 
other crops. Get a variety that grows 
a long, straight, fine brush. Prepare the 
land as for corn or potatoes, drill the 
seed about as for silage corn in rows 
the same distance apart, so that it can 
be cultivated with the two-horse culti¬ 
vator. After it has developed a full 
brush, it may be bent down by bending 
frhe stalk between two joints near the 
top; that is done in order to keep it 
from twisting and bending as the seed 
gets heavy. Do not let it get too ripe, 
as the straw will get brown and lose a 
part of its elasticity. Above all, don’t 
let it get frosted in the field. Barnyard 
manure is the best fertilizer, applied as 
for corn. A homemade cleaner can 
be made by sawing a number of slits 
very close in the end of a hard oak 
board, but I have used a long-toothed 
currycomb to good advantage. There 
are cleaners on the market, but in a 
small way it does not justify one to 
invest in a patented machine. When 
it is cut ready to dry, spread it very 
thin in some airy place, as it will spoil 
very quickly if left on a pile. As to 
how much could be grown to the acre, 
I can’t tell, but I presume it would 
be as profitable at the present price as 
any other farm crop, especially as the 
cleaning and making of brooms can be 
done in Winter. j. i. wishard. 
Maryland. 
Oats on Rye. 
I have a field of corn stubble which was 
sown to rye last Summer late, but the 
rye is thin and at this time shows little 
growth. I wish to sow the field to oats 
and clover. Instead of plowing, can I 
disk it after broadcasting oats, then sow 
the clover and harrow, and let what rye 
remains come along with the oats? Farm¬ 
ers here say that oats do best on corn 
stubble ground without plowing. 
Indianapolis, Ind. a. m. c. 
We think the rye would improve if left 
alone with clover seed put in it. The 
plan of disking in the oats will answer, 
and ought to give a fair seeding. 
Chestnut Failure. —On page 261 we 
note what II. F. has to say in reference to 
his chestnuts not maturing, and your re¬ 
ply. The experience of C. K. Sober, who 
lias been in close touch with chestnut trees 
for several years, is to the effect that the 
Paragon is self-pollenizing. This is also 
our own experience. We have Sober Para¬ 
gon chestnut trees isolated from all other 
trees, and they are bearing chestnuts every 
year. We think it is quite possible that 
there is entirely too much lime in II. F.’s 
soil, and, if that is the case, it would 
produce a tree similar to his description. 
We would suggest that he have his soil 
analyzed and see if it does not contain an 
excess amount of lime. 
New York. glen buos., inc. 
The FOSS Engine 
DIRECT TO YOU. 
We save you from 
26 per cent, to 40 
per cent, on the 
highest grade en¬ 
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our factory direct 
to the user; they 
are built for ser¬ 
vice, are easy 
starters, and in 
every respect a 
high grade engine. Send 
for our catalogue and 
price list. 
FOSS GASOLINE ENGINE CO., 
750 PORTAGE ST., KALAMAZOO, MICH 
GE 
Tor Rabbits, 
.. . Chickens, Hogs, Sheep, 
r r Horses, Cattle. 160 styles. Big 
heavy No. 9 galvanized Coiled 
Spring rust proof wires. Will defy 
stock, wind and weather. Free sample m 
Hmjm. & cat ’e- 15 to 35c per rod. We pay freight Sr 
SSSV The Brown Fence & Wire Co., jtB 
-- Dept. 59 Cleveland, O. 
Ornamental Fence Lawns, Ch urches, Cem¬ 
eteries, Public Grounds. Also Wrought Iron Fence. Catalogue 
free. Write lor Special Offer. ' 
THE WARD FENCE CO.. Box 443 Decatur, Ind. 
Cheap as Wood. 
Womanufacturo Lawn and Farm Fence. Selldirect 
shipping to usorsonly.atmanufacturers’ prices. No 
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UP-TO-DATE MFG. CO. 936 |0th St., Terre Haute, Ind. 
FENCE 
Strongest 
Made — 
Madeof High Carbon Double Strength 
Colled Wire. Heavily Galvanized to 
prevent rust. Have no agents. Sell at 
factory prices on 30 days’ tree trial. 
We pay al I freight. 37 heights of farm 
and poultry fence. Catalog Free. 
COILED SPRING FENCE CO. 
Box 263 Winchester, Indiana. 
Cents a Rod 
For22-in. Hog Fence; 15 3*4e for 
26-Inch; 18 3-4e for 31-ineh; 22e 
for 84-inch; 25c for a 47-ineh 
Farm Fence. 50-inch Poultry 
Fence 33c. Sold ort 30 days 
trial. 80 rod spool Ideal Barb 
Wire $1.55 Catalogue free. 
KITSELMAN BROS., 
Box 230 MUNCIE, IND. 
With 
An 
Sizes 
American 
Saw 
Mill 
This simple, light running 
mill makes more and better 
lumber with less power and 
less help than any other. You can 
set up and operate any American mill 
with the directions before you. If you 
have no timber, your neighbors have. 
Don’t let your engine lie idle. 
124-Page Book,, Free 
Containing valuable suggestions about 
the care of saws, fully describing the fea¬ 
tures that make our mills best, giving 
prices and guaranty and full information 
about our Wood Saws, Shingle Ma¬ 
chines and other wood working ma¬ 
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American Saw Mill 
129 Hope St. 
1682 Terminal 
Perfection Water Basin, 
Wood Saws For Farmers’ Use 
For sawing firewood, lumber, 
lath, posts, pickets, etc., the 
cheapest and best saw you can 
buy Is a 
Hertzler & Zook 
Wood Saw 
Easy to operate. Guaranteed for 
one year. You can build up a 
paying business In sawing fire¬ 
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bor. Price $10.00. Write for circular. 
Heitzler a Zook Co.. Box a Belleville, Pa. 
with side Inlet and Strainer. 
Superior to all others, with 
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features Also Perfection 
Swing Stanchions, Steel Stall 
and Manger Partitions. Send 
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BATES S SWIFT SPECIALTY MFG. CO., Box 5, CUBA. N. Y 
Here’s a tool that cuts 
quickly through the hardest 
ground, and you can set it 
to bore nine sizes of holes. 
Standard 
Post-Hole 
AUGER 
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than any similar device, and 
you cannot afford to be with 
out one If you set posts— 
plant trees—dig wells—build 
fences or bore in the earth for 
any purpose. Get Catalog A 
STANDARD KART1I AUGER CO. 
1188-84 Newport Avc., Chicago 
IWAN 
POST HOLE and 
WELL AUGER 
Buys Itself in Two Days 
Does a day's work in two hours. Digs a 3-foot hole 
' In any kind of soil, wot or dry, in three minutes, llitea its way 
through solid clay, hard-pan, sand, gravel. If it isn’t the beat 
1 you ever saw, get your money back on request from dealer. 
! With our simple, cheap plpo extensions It’s easy to dig 40tot»- 
foot wells. Thousands in use. Good dealers everywhere havo it. 
Remember the same, IWAN Made by Iwan Bros. 
See your dealer or write uo today, mentioning his name, for free 
book “Easy Digging,” full of tips on digging methods. Dept. 6 
(9) IWAN BROS., South Bend, Ind. 
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Box 257T, Adrian, Mich. 
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j PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO. 
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Box 257T, Adrian, Michigan 
