1 Szpr., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 233 
Agriculture. 
THE CULTIVATION OF BROOM CORN. 
No. 3. 
By DANIEL JONES, 
Department of Agriculture. 
BENDING. 
THE operation of bending the broom-head is, with some varieties, a very 
necessary part of the cultivation, in order to avert that serious imperfection, 
the bane of the manufacturer as well as of the grower— namely, crooked brush. 
Prospective growers will have noted, in the last article on this subject, the illus- 
tration showing the difference between the perfect and imperfect brush. In . 
ractice, it will be found impossible to avoid having some small quantity of 
broom-heads taking the crooked form. Nevertheless, by timely attention to. 
bending, the amount of loss from this cause need be trifling. 
The period when this operation is necessary will depend very much on the 
condition of the crop. Should the crop have developed unevenly, some heads 
being more advanced than others, this will involve more attention, and resolves: 
itself into a matter of expediency as to whether it will pay to begin bending, 
when only a part of the crop is sufficiently advanced to need that attention, or 
to postpone the work until the general condition of the crop demands it. 
It must be borne in mind that the object of bending is to prevent the 
immature broom-heads from becoming contorted at the base, which usually 
happens either owing to the increasing weight of seed or to the tenacity of the 
sheath, which unduly constricts and so obstructs regular development. TI find 
that in some seasons this trouble is more pronounced than in others, and is 
more common with.certain varieties. 
In some seasons, and with particular kinds, this operation was scarcely 
needed, for comparatively few heads would turn crooked at the base. A good 
deal also depends on the luxuriance of the crop, and, in the event of the heads 
being heavy and large, the need for bending will be early apparent. The period 
for turning down the heads is about the time when the seed is formed in the 
panicles, before they are quite full or have become matured. The bending, if 
properly performed, will not interfere with the head maturing, and will have 
the effect of straightening out the fibre, making it somewhat tougher and of 
more value from a manufacturer’s point of view; and it also simplifies, to a 
material extent, the operation of cutting and curin : 
In the event of prolonged wet weather at harvesting time, the turned-down 
heads will not deteriorate from want of cutting and exposure to the same extent 
as those remaining untreated. It rests with the individual grower to judge, 
from the evidence of the condition of his crop, as to whether this work is to be 
performed or not. The grower must bear in mind that this crooked brush, if 
produced, will materially lower the value of the sample in the buyer's estimation, 
as it is an article that can only be profitably used for one purpose in the 
manufacture of brooms. Hence factory proprietors look askance at a dispro- 
portionate quantity of crooked hurl or brush among their consignments. 
The process of bending is accomplished by the workman moving down be- 
tween two drills and gripping the stalk between finger and thumb, giving it a very 
firm pinch so as not to snap off the broom-head. Then, with a deft motion of 
the hand, he turns the stalk down. The precise knack of doing this operation, 
. 
