The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-07-08
FODDER.

We consider pulling fodder ''behind the
age' in all respects. 1t should he discon-
tinued by all enlightened and economical
planters. We confidently offer the follow
ingsubstitute:
Corn Fodder.-Dreak mp, very deeply,
a piece of rich land, harrow it finely, and
with broad shovel plow lay it off in drills
three feet apart. In these drills scatter
corn at the rate of 80 or 80 grains TO the
foot, and cover with 4 hoe. rake, board or
harrow, drawn lengthwise along the drill.
When well up. run around it," pretty
close. with q long roofer, and repeat after
10 or Is days. In the course of 10 or ID
days more, break out the entire m!ddlcs
with the roOtcr, and finally lay with the
shovel pillow, running up and down in the
same furrOw, midway between the drills
On good land, prepared and worked in this
way, the yield will be from 3 to tons,
sometimes even l0) OF excellent fodder per
acre. This is as much as can he pulled
from 90 TO 30 acres, in the common way,
and at one tenth of the labor. Pound for
pnund, it is as good, If not better tina: pulled
fodder, it contains the entire j~ic- and
strength Of The piani, which, in the other
case, las gone to the formation Of the ear
of the grain. The loss q freight and i4jr-
Ty to The grain, by dcPriring carr stalks of
Their iearss LCtorc all gro,rh has ccaScd, is
fully equal 10 The ral~e Of H,c JoddCr pnILed.
We, therefore, desire that our readers should
abandon this "old fogy" practice. and give
drilled corn-fodder fair trial 1t is not
yet too late, but should be done in,uaediatc-
IT, Any one who fairly tests it will, we are
quite certain, abandon fodder pulling for
ever.
Curing Corn Foddcr.-The proper time
to cut drilled fodder, is when all the stalks
are fairly tasseled out, or in full bloom. 1t
may be cut close TO the ground, with long,
sharp knife, or n sickle. Select a dry dav,
commencing carly in the morning, and cut
ting until dinner time. As fast as it is cut,
spread it thin along the row, and let it lie
and take the sun after dinner, when the up-
per side will be pretty well wiltcd. Then
turn It Orer carefully, and leave it Oh the
ground until > O'Clock in the evening. when
1t must be gathered up, tied. in bundles of
moderate size (say a foot through ut the !
hand) and set up on the butt end, in shocks |
Of 4 or ) bundles each-turning one bundle !
upside down, over the others, as a ..cap- |
sheat.' The next day, after sunrise, these |
bundles must DO united and the fodder
spread out again until noc.,- and then turn f!
ed and summed till evening, as before. This !
may be repeated the third day, which will
be sufficient, if the weather is ia
Eorable. 1t may then be permanently |
stacked or packed away under cover: and
if while packing, the different LAYERS are
sprinkled with salt, at the rate of s quarts
to an ordinary two-horse wagon load, it
will be more highly relished by stock, and
all danger of heating obviatcd. Many per-
sons make great mystery of curing drill
Or broadcast corn fodder; but we have al
ways found this simple method sure and
,ffectual
Cutting up corn in the field, and using
The stalk and leaf for the winter feeding of
'tock, has also many advantages, which we
Will speak of more in detail hereafter.