Agriculture. THE CULTIVATION OF BROOM CORN. No. 3. BY DANIEL JONES, 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 illustration showing the difference between the perfect and imperfect brush. In practice, 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. I 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 curing. 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 disproportionate quantity of crooked hurl or brush among their consignments. The process of bending is accomplished by the workman moving down between 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, so as not to snap off the top, cannot, of course, be indicated here, but a little practice will soon enable the operator to make just the grip and turn of hand essential to quick work. Sometimes the stalk is so tough that, by simply pulling the top over the elbow, the bending can be successfully done. I have found that unless care is exercised, more especially if the stalk is somewhat immature, the top, instead of bending over properly, will snap off to the detriment of the immature fibre. When working among tall corn, it will be necessary to take precautions not to turn the tops down so that the fibre will come in contact with or too near the ground, in which event, on the occurrence of wet weather, the brush will be injured from contact with the soil. In turning down dwarf stalks, care must be taken that there be left a full 6 inches or 8 inches clear of the butt of the broom-head. In bending, it must be remembered that a clear, uninjured stalk is required of about 6 inches in length. I have known some new growers not only lose the weight in their crop by cutting close to the fibre, but, by this operation, rendering the product of less use and value to the broom-maker. The grower will, by experience, find how far this operation of bending is necessary. In most instances it will be found that a considerable number of the stalks will need no attention; hence, in such a case, the grower can pass over his crop very quickly. I would like growers here to give heed to a phase of the industry not hitherto dealt with, and, perhaps, this had better be referred to in this place, as it will of necessity have some bearing on the manipulation of crop at the time of maturity. I allude to the question of the best fibre. It is generally conceded by growers and manufacturers alike, that the best fibre is that which is cut before the seed is formed, as at that stage the hurl has not become brittle and stained. The question for the grower to determine then is, whether he can afford to discard the value of his seed for a more enhanced price for his fibre, avoiding, to some extent, the need of bending with a slightly increased trouble in cleaning fibre, or, on the other hand, sacrifice a certain proportion of fibre to save the seed. A very great proportion of the American crop is gathered before the seed forms, and the fibre brings, on this account, a high price, owing to its uniform colour and improved quality. These are matters for the farmer to deal with as his own interests dictate. I am aware that some growers could ill afford to dispense with the seed. These will adopt the more common plan of getting some seed as well as fibre, and be content to accept a somewhat lower price for the crop of broom-heads. ABOUT MUSHROOMS. BY HENRY A. TARDENT, IN Australia, poisoning from eating mushrooms is, I believe, a very rare occurrence. I do not know whether it is because there are not so many poisonous varieties in the colony, or because mushrooms are less used as an esculent. I find in a recent number of the "Bibl. Univ. et Révue Suisse" an interesting article written by Mr. A. de Zaczewsky, one of the greatest living authorities on mycology. As it contains many facts on the subject which may be of use here, I extract from it the following: "From the most ancient times mushrooms have been considered as an extremely healthy esculent. Modern science has confirmed that opinion. According to analysis made by the greatest authorities known to chemical science, mushrooms are by far the most nutritious of vegetable substances, not excluding bread. The proportion of protein they contain brings them nearer to meat than to plants. In addition, they contain an important proportion of assimilable phosphorus.' |