Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-07-02
AGRICULTURAL.
SOWING CORN FOR FODDER.

So conclusive and satisfactory have been the
experiments in sowing corn for fodder in prefer
ence to stripping the leaves from the stalk, in the
usual way, that policy ought not to be regard
ed as mooted, but one of the fixed facts of agri-
culture. year ago published an account of
an experiment made By ourselves, by which it APP
peared that the corn of the stalks robbed Of the
leaves at the usual time of gathering fodder, was
deficient IN weight, when compared with that not
stripped, the full amount of the fodder. This de-
ticency was certainly the effect of taking away
the leaf of the plant, and SO long as pound OF
corn IS worth more than pound OF fodder, 1t must
be losing business to remove the blade. We
have made several experiments of a like charac-
ter with great care, for the purpose OF testing the
facts, not with a view of cheating ourselves, and
all with the same results If there were no sources
from which we could supply our wants in fodder,
this loss would have to be resorted to, but there
are, and it is questionable whether they had not
better be resorted to, if the stripping prac-
tice did not ure the corn. Pulling fodder is one
Of the most Improbable and irksome operations
upon the farm, and to avoid it, our practice is to
set apart piece of land in the spring to be sown
at convenient time-either in Nav June, or Ju-
ly. Having ploughed thoroughly, we open fur
rows at from three to three -and a-half feet apart
IN which we drill from 9 to 3 bushels to the acre
and cover with plough After which the cult
Vator is run through it or twice, at suitable
intervals, according to the season and its rapid
retarded growth. When the corn is in full tassel
we cut 1t and shock it around stakes, driven into
the ground, to prevent its being blown down. We
set the butt ends of the corn down and secure the
tops to the stake by band. Some places the
tops down. believing that it cures better in this
position. We sometimes take the shocks down
after they have stood few days and turn them
inside out, and consider the time well spent, as it
ensures uniform and thorough curing of the fod
der in much shorter time than if left standing as
first put up 1t may, however, be removed before
fully cured, to the barn. shuck house, or open
sheds, and set up (not laid DOWN as close as can
be pressed together, and left till sufficiently cured
to pack away for winter use. In this way we have
made very large amount of fodder to the acre !:
BY others as high as hundred tons, in its green
state, have been reported, and there is no reason
to discredit the report. If desirable two crops
may very easily be made year. The first may
be cut the last of June. and the second in Septem
Der, if delayed later, it will have small ears up
on it. 1t is of 50 rapid and prolific growth, Of
course is great exhauster to the land and for
this reason it is believed of doubtful policy to make
two crops. Some have regarded it good fallow
TO precede wheat, and have declared great conf
dence in it for this purpose, but we confess we
have not faith to this extent Others have been
pleased with the practice of sowing it on land af
ter oats have been taken off, and think it benefit
to the land but whatever may be the truth in these
respects, one thing is certain and all naturalists
and superintendent agree in it, that the leaf should
Atol NC SlflPpeu lFo lne pIdlt Uelofe me maturity
of the fruit. The best course we conceive to be
is to set apart at this one, two four eight
acres, according to wants. for the express
purpose of producing fodder. If the land has been
well MANFRED, it may be sown in peas at the last
working, and before frost valuable crop of pea
vines may be made from the same ground. If it
has not been manured sow the peas and give the
vine to the land in place Of what has been taken
from it-then if you choose sow in whest.-Far-
and Planter.