The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-07-13
The PION EER,
AGRIcULTU RAJ.
Green Fodder,

Green Fodder.
The late Col. Pickering, in an address
before the Essex County Agricultural So
ciety, once said
Every farmer knows how eagerly cat
tie devour the entire plant of the Indian
corn in its green state and laid in good
condition will produce heavy crops of it.
Some years ago, just when the ears were
ia the milk, l cut close to the ground the
plants growing on measured space, equal
as Judged, to the average product of the
whole piece; and found that, at the same
rate, an acre would yield twelve tons of
green fodder: probably richer and more
nourishig food than any other known to
husbandman. And this quantity was the
growth of less than four months.
1t has appeared to me that the sort
called sweet corn yields stocks of richer
juice than the common yellow corn. 1t is
also more disposed to multiply suckers
an additional recommendation to it when
planted to be cut in green state for hor-
ses and cattle, and especially for milk
cows and at the time for planting may be
so regulated as to furnish supplies of food
just when the pastures usually fail | am
inclined to doubt whether any other green
food will afford butter Of equal quality" :"
Col. Pickering was wont to speak mod
estly, when others regarded him as good
authority. Many things which appeared
to him years ago, as important agricultu,a al
truths, have since proved such and among
others this of planting corn for green fod
der In connection with Col. Pickcring's
remarks that the time Of planting may be
regulated as to furnish supplies of food
just when the pastures fail, we would in
quire inasmuch as corn stalks and leaves
well cured, are an excellent winter food
for cattle whether the time of plsn,ing {
could not be regulated with some refere {,
to the prospective wants Of the succeeding
winter. We accord most heartily with
the sentiment of an excellent article in a
former number of this paper, by our wor-
thy predecessor, in which it was shown
that the farmer should have the general
plan of the summers campaign made out
beforehand, should study in the winter,
lay his plans for the season, and then car
rythem out in the summer. We suppose,
however there are exceptions to be made
The clover ON particular field may have
failed or it may have become apparent
in time for sewing corn, that the hay crop
is agoing to be short. The farmer there
fore will find it convenient with regard to
certain fields, not to have his mind unal
terably made until as late as the end OF
June. To what extent corn fodder is des-
tined to take the place of hay, we are not
certain. That it affords an excellent fall
feed for dairy purposes there is NO doubt;
and it is certainly ascertained that it may,
on some farms at least, be proitably
grown for winter fodder. Much of course
depends on the character of the farm, and
something we suppose may depend upon
the season; we see no reason why, in
case of the prospect being dark at the end
OF June for fall and winter food, the farmer
who has land fit for the purpose, should
not thrust in few acres for corn-fodder,
when otherwise he would not, to be fed
out green in early autumn or to be cured
for winter, as the case may seem to re-
quire.
The merchant turns quickly y in an emer-
gency. To limited extent, very limited
we confess, and yet not SO limited as to be
unimportant, the farmer, for aught we
can see, may do the same. We advise
farmers to look at this matter Connecti-
cm Valley Farmer.