342 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1899. 
preparation can be quickly done. The cleaners, taking two handfuls of brush, 
press one handful down on the cylinder with the other, until clean and vice versa, 
turning the hand occasionally to ensure every part of the hold being scraped. 
In my own practice, I have cleaned at the rate of 40 Ib. of brush per hour 
with one man at the machine and a boy to hand up. 
Before concluding my references to cleaning the fibre, I wish to advert to 
a method that I sometimes used, and, as it has a bearing upon the curing of the 
crop, has some connection with the former subject. Under certain circum- 
stances, it may be deemed expedient by the grower to strip the brush immediately 
upon cutting—that is, when the crop is not dried, but quite green. In sucha 
case it is quite practical to do so, and with advantage in some respects. The 
fibre, stripped in this condition, will be much easier cured, and cured in better 
condition, inasmuch as the longer process of drying will be much accelerated by 
the absence of seed and husk on the fibre, and the whole residue much lighter 
and easier to handle. Where the grower cares to lose the value of his seed, 
this method can be used. If, however, he has need of the stripped seed for 
stock-feeding, the matter will not be wasted. Generally speaking, unless for 
converting into ensilage, for which I learn it is well adapted, green material such 
as this cannot be kept for long, as it quickly heats and ferments, and is wasted. 
In addition to the implements mentioned, some farmers use portions of 
their stripping and threshing machines for the purpose of separating the seed. 
T think now that, as far as cultivation and curing are concerned, I have touched 
on all such points as are needed to guide the ordinary farmer who may be 
contemplating the cultivation of broom millet. 
BALING. 
The process of baling the fibre requires careful attention. The various 
qualities should be graded according to length. The long, medium, and the 
short should, as far as possible, be sorted out and kept distinct, and all crooked 
brush, if in quantity, should be kept separate. To bale the brush, the ordinary 
form of hay press is commonly used. ‘The stalk of the brush is placed at the 
ends of the bale, allowing the tops to overlap in the centre, which tends to bind 
them. This is done by putting in an armful alternately from either end. In 
the case of short brush, it will be necessary to place some of fair length in the 
centre oceasionally, as the tops will not overlie sufficiently to hold the rest firmly 
in place. In baling care must be given to press the whole bale evenly and 
firmly, more especially for carriage to a distance. I frequently notice, on the - 
wharves in Beane’ American and New South Wales millet in broken condition, 
spread over the wharf and over the ship’s hold, in consequence of defective baling. 
At all times, as far as baling is concerned, this crop is a hard one to handle, 
because the smoothness of the stalks makes it a matter of difficulty to fasten 
them tightly, either in small bundles, in bales, or when loading on the drays. 
The American bales, I notice, are fastened with ordinary fencing wire. The 
New South Wales crop is baled with the addition of strips of paling in the same 
manner as we put up lucerne hay. 
These bales roughly measure about 4 feet in length by 2 feet 6 inches in 
width and depth, and weigh approximately between 300 and 400 Ib. 
