Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/335

 BROOM BROOM CORN tenced to pay a fine of $300, and resigned his seat in congress, but was reelected without opposition. He died suddenly from acute in- flammation of the throat. BROOM, a genus of plants, consisting of shrubs or small trees, with leaves in threes and yel- low or purplish white flowers, belonging to the natural order leguminoice. The common broom, the spartium scoparium of Lin- nsBus, and the cytisw scoparius of Lamarck, is a bushy shrub, with smooth, angular, dark-green branches, and yellow, butterfly- shaped, axillary blos- soms, and is common on sandy heaths in Great Britain. Bun- dles of its twigs make brooms for sweeping. Its roasted seeds are sometimes used as coflee. The fibres of its bark, separated by soaking, may be manufactured into matting and cordage. A decoction of its tops Broom (Spartium scoparium). has been celebrated as a medicine for dropsy, but, though often effi- cacious as a diuretic, it is not certain in its operation. The spartium junceum, or Spanish broom, is a native of Spain, abundant in Va- lencia, and is supposed to be the plant which, according to Pliny, overspread whole moun- tains near New Carthage (Cartagena). Its twigs and bark are manufactured into carpets and various implements, and are articles of merchandise. It is cultivated as an ornamental shrub in gardens. BROOM CORK (sorghum vulgare), a plant which is a native of India, and is cultivated in Europe and America, having a jointed stem like a reed, usually rising to the height of from 6 to 10 ft., bearing an effuse spike, of which brooms are made. It has yellow oval seeds, villous oblong florets, and broad lanceolate leaves. The introduction of broom corn as an agricultural product into this country is at- tributed to Dr. Franklin. He is said to have accidentally seen an imported whisk of corn in the possession of a lady of Philadelphia, and while examining it as a curiosity saw a seed, which he planted, and from this small begin- ning has sprung the present product of this ar- ticle in the United States. The cultivation of the broom corn is now very extensively carried on in most parts of the United States, especially by some branches of the society of Shakers, and the manufacture of it into brooms is an important industry. The seed of the broom corn is excellent for fattening sheep. It is also fed with advantage to horses and poultry, and, when ground with Indian corn, rye, oats, or barley, to cattle. Ground and mixed with wheat bran, it is good for milch cows. It is considered by some to be worth as much per bushel, when fully ripened and well cured, as Indian corn. It may be dried on barn or gar- ret floors, and the ground is often used for the purpose. Frequent stirring, while drying, is essential. It should be run through a fanning mill before grinding. As to the yield of seed, it is somewhat precarious; yet it will often more than pay the whole expense of cultivation and preparing the crop for market. In some cases 150 bushels of good seed have been ob- tained from an acre, but this is a rare yield. The harvesting of the crop most generally commences while the seed is in its earliest stage, or milky state, as the early harvested broom is the brightest and best ; consequently there must be a sacrifice of more or less seed. Alluvial lands are the best for raising broom corn ; yet almost any soil that will raise good maize will produce a tolerable crop of broom. It will pay well for manuring and for careful culture. No crop is more beautiful in appear- ance than the standing corn, when in perfec- tion. It often attains to a height of 12 or 15 ft. The stalks of the plant are long and hard, and are considered of but little consequence, except for manure. However, cattle having access to them before the frost will feed well upon their leaves. The planting is generally done with a machine, drawn by a horse, in rows 3 ft. apart, wide enough for the cultiva- tor or plough to pass conveniently. The seed is dropped in hills from 16 to 18 inches apart, four quarts of seed being sufficient to plant an acre. The seed will germinate and the blade make its appearance in four or five days, if the weather is favorable and the soil productive. Broom Corn (Sorghum vulgarc). It may be manured in the hill, or by spreading the manure upon the ground, or in both ways if high cultivation is desired. One man, with