Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-08-07
Corn fer Fodder.

The difficulty in raising corn for fodder
has been often mentioned II consists in
the curing We think the author of tie
following letter in the Ohio CpItivator has
perhaps got higher the philosophy OF the
case than most who have treated it.
For some years l have praot ced sowing
corn for fodder with the most decided sue
cess The process I have pursued has
been something like the following;
Select a piece of ground Of ordinary
siren ,th-a common wheat sell is strong
enough, aid a poorer soil VIII do better
than stronger one, as IN "a strong soil the
corn Will be apt to grow too strong and
heavy IN the stock, make coarse fodder,
and lodge If soBn upon a sod. it should
b. plOwcd hat once but if thpre is no sod
t. e better way Is to plow in \: :jril and har-
row and plow again about tie middle Of
June. From the fifteenth to the twenty
fifth of June SOW three bushels Of corn per
acre. If the soil Is loose, narrowing in
will do very we'll but if somewhat heavy,
harrow before sowing, and plow in with
cuitlvatcr, 30 more attention Is needed un-
til it is st to cut. The best time to do
this Is generally in September or October
when the leaves have become somewhat
dry and the stalk more ssiff, it viii then
be easier to handle and stand up better
The most important part Of tie process
is cutting aud putting it up, and all tho
failures that have occurred within my
knowledge have been the result Of an er-
ror in this particular.
If the growth of fodder Is not nor
than from four to six feet in height. it may
be cut with strong grain cradle 4
short scythe end brt three strong fin e-s
are the best Cradle it down. and let two
hands follow with rakos; take swath
each and set ii il small shocks perfectly
loose-no binding in sheavcs about it
Let the shocks be Of sufficient size to stand
mp well tie the tops firmly with Land.
ful of re straw, and let it alone until
winter. aud if we'll put up viii require but
little attention To keep It from falling
down. and when once frmly set Il will shed
water SO % not 90 wet half an inch dcep.
If, however, the growth Of the fodder be
very large, the best wa to cut it IS TO
take the German sickle. throw it In bunch
Is and put up as before; nd draw as
needed in winter. It cannot -. put up in
a NOW, however dry it may appear to be
without heating and spelling.
When the height Of the corn is from
four and half to six feet high. it makes
the be quality of fodder, and if sown
sufficiently thick 1t viii then be soft and
sweet. and horses cattle or sheep will eat
it up clean stalk and all The best way
to feed it to sheep when the ground is fro
zen Or covered with snow is to scatter it
thinly on the ground
The quality Of The food it makes I con-
slider superior ID the best of hay. and the
quantity three times that Of the best uea-
dow land. l have kept from two to four
hundred head of sheep npon It almo,s
exclusively. From an acre and half Ia
two acres of the fodder, / have found suf-
fcient to winter one hundred head Of
sheep, without Grain Except to owes) ;hro'
the month Of March
There i only one hing woTze than ignorance
and tAtf i concet OF All in;rac,ible fools delIv-
er US from an oveFwise man. lou mag make ID
lots philosophers. bat don't ever think ST drvins