wy QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Juxny, 1899. 
aspect. Strong winds encountered At ripening time, accompanied by wet 
weather, are very liable—when the broom-heads are heavy—to blow the crop 
down. Of course, such a contingency is probable with all crops, but I know 
of no more difficult and annoying trouble to be handicapped with than to cut 
broom-heads when they are mixed up in inextricable confusion, the result of a 
gale of wind accompanied by tropical rains. As this crop is not capable of 
withstanding much wet either in the soil or atmosphere, soils that are in their 
nature excessively wet and ill-drained had better be avoided, or, if such 
conditions unavoidably obtain, care must be observed that the crop shall not 
materially suffer from such causes. A. soil that retains too much wet not only 
vetards development, but at'the critical period when the broom-heads are in 
condition for bending or cutting, if long wet weather supervenes, the moisture 
militates considerably against getting on the land for the purpose of cutting 
the crop, and as a consequence the fibre is often either badly discoloured or is 
jn too forward a condition to sell as a good marketable commodity. Given 
moderately rich soil, not too retentive of moisture, well ploughed, and 
théroughly harrowed to a fine state of tilth, and under these conditions no 
farmer need be apprehensive as to the adaptability of his land to yield—if 
‘seasonal conditions are favourable—a satisfactory crop both in quantity and 
tality. 
s The time for preparation of the soil will determine itself whem deciding for 
an early or late crop of broom corn. In the Moreton districts, I have sown the 
seed as early as 22nd July with good results. This very early sowing is only 
recommended in such localities as may reasonably be expected to be protected 
from late frosts, for, in the event of these occurring, it would possibly seriously 
affect the development of the crop, and most probably a severe frost would 
destroy thé tender growth. 
Where the locality is favourable for early sowing, it is judicious for 
the farmer to avail himself of this advantage, inasmuch as an early planting 
will have several advantages, chief among which is the harvesting of the crop 
before our coastal wet season usually sets in. A crop sown during the latter 
part of July, if the season is favourable, will be fit to cut about the early part of 
November. ‘The crop, being in thus early, will be much ahead of the New South 
Wales crops, and, as a consequence of its being the earliest on the market, it will 
be in better demand. Another advantage accrues from early planting. That 
is, the possibility of harvesting a second crop, either a ratoon or a fresh sowing. 
Thus, in order to haye your ground in good condition for an early crop, it is 
expedient to set about the preparation of the land sufficiently early to let the 
soil become aerated and disintegrated, so as to be in condition for sowing 
during July for an early crop, and as far on in the season as December 
for a late one. It must be borne in mind that broom corn matures better and 
revels in a good warm season. Under such conditions its growth is most 
vigorous, and the yield is heavier. Hence late sowing is more likely to prove 
less satisfactory than the early or medium period. I would here once 
again like to specially emphasise in time the need of as fine a seed bed as 
possible to facilitate the mechanical operations enumerated subsequently, and 
which will prove a means of considerably accelerating operations. An American 
agricultural axiom is, that it is cheaper to hoe twice than once. This problem 
the practical farmer will be able to reason out, and will conclude it to be a wise 
feature in agrarian operations. 
SOWING. 
Tn common with most millets, the sowing of this seed, as ee performed 
by hand, is a tedious, unsatisfactory, and expensive operation. The common 
practice of drawing out drills by the plough, then dropping the seed by hand, 
or the alternative plan of dropping the seed every 3 or 4 furrows while 
ploughing, thus burying the seed with scant chance of resurrection from its 
grave, is too often a cause of disappointment. By adopting this practice, many 
a farmer has anathematised the quality of his seed for not germinating, when 
