Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-05-07
AGRICULTURAL.
CORN FODDER.

| Ono 0Vluence OF improvement III dSItCufsufo u
the almost universal use of constable for fodder
il being as rare now 10 zee field Of Stake iei
10 DO run over and trampied under foot BY cattle,
as il was, before the establishment Of agriculiu-
raj societies and agricultural newspapers, TO sec
= field Of corn cut up BY the roots, and housed in
are now beginning TO find, that corn can DO cuI-
,ivated exclusively for fodder, cheaper than they
can raise other feed. But there 10 an error very
prevalent in gard to tbs best method Of culu.
vaion-I allude to sowing it broadcast. Far
mers much in the habit of sowing all crops
broadcast. that the subject Of drilling in crops
has received but little attention. We reason,
that because labor is high and the land cheap,
| therefore. we cannot afford the time and expense
OF drilling, but must use more land and get light
or crops. AS have had some experience in cul-
tivatIDg corn fodder, ! think can make il appear
that the drill system OF culture is the cheapest.
Lands 10 produce corn for any purpose should
De highly manured-and Of course they will be-
very subject TO weeds. Corn cultivated in hills
is usually very much injured by weeds but very
much more SO when sown broadcast. Other
spring grains are put in the ground so early, that
they get the start Of weeds but by the time
corn Is planted, vegetation is rapid, and it has to
run and even race with weeds; they are sure TO
come off victorious. In getting the seed into
the ground, sowing broadcast is the most expedi-
nous; but this advantage is greatly overbalanced
IN harvesting and curing the crops. Corn fodder
is the most difficult to cure of any crop within
my knowledge When we recoIlect, that from
800 to 900 lbs. of syrup. boiled sufficiently to
grain into sugar, has been obtained from one acre
of stalks, we shall realize that stalks contain an
abundance Of sap.
The following method of cultivation have
Prac'Ised with success. Prepare the land u
sual for corn; mark off the drills, three feet apart,
north and south so 10 admit The MONDAY sun
between the rows. Let the corn he dropped i'm
the drills have at least one kernel in eve
ry two inches. Two bushels of seed should be-
used to the acre, and there is not much danger of
getting the corn too thckly in the drills. They
should he covered by drawing the earth from
each side OF the drill with hoe. AS soon az
The rows can be distinguished, they should be
plastrr cultivated and hoed. skilful hand
with a cultivator will perform the after.culture
as the corn will grow so rapidly as to soon COW
er the ground, and prevent the growth of weeds.
Ii should be cut as it gets its grow ;h and
before frosts The best method is to use a cou,-
mon corn-cutter, laying the stalks upon the
ground in small lunches, and when wited,
binding them in small bundles and stacking them
In the usual manner of stacking corn. From,
seven to nine bundles placed in stack, and
bound around the top, will we'll. The
Stacks will need TO stand long time in good
weather to be thoroughly cured; and after all,
they will almost assurediy heat in the NOW, and
become mouldly, unless we'll salted.
Of their value as food for stock I need not
speak, as horses. cattle sheep will discuss that
matter to your entire satisfaction, provided YOU
The great difficulty with corn sown broadcast
is in harvesting and cu-ing. I knew crop on
rich land, which grew about seven feet high, and
the stalks were so Timber to scarcely bear
their own weight ithad to he cut with a sick
lie, which was slow tedious process. If they
can be moved or Graded, there is still much
danger OF their becoming spoiled before they can
be cured; and there is no safe manner Of curing
them except by stacking. Farmers will at onco
perceive that they much more readily bound
and stacked when in drills, and cut with a sick
lie or corn cutter, than when scattered over the
whole surface.
There is another use for corn Gown for fodder,
which IS praotised by some farmers near Boston,
VIZ: for soiling-and is represented as a crop
equal to any of the articles used in England for
that purpose. Ii, instead o! trying to introduce
foreign articles. of which we are entirely unac-
quainted, we should try experiments in using
corn. we should probably find our account in il.
We know it is congenial to our climats, and will
afford wholesome food for man and beast.
Yours,
NJ