The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-09-03

enouSh 10 oe housed, and that upon which |
lhe blades were left was not, but contin-
ued green and full Of sap, (as it did) the !
corn was still undergoing the process Of |
maturing, which believe to be the case
we are forced 10 the convic-
ton that so long as the corn blade retains |
any sap in it, The corn is injured by strip
p'hg 1t from the stalk. With the in,en-
ton, however, Of testing thoroughly this
matter, placed botl, parcels away care.
'ul'y IN barrels, expecting to weigh them
again the following spring, at which time
they would undo ubled!y become mo.
roughly dried, but unfortunately for this
part of the experiment, the rats and mice
got IN among it, and so damaged i, that
nothing satisfactorily could he done with
it,
The next experiment of which have
kept any record, was made in 1852. Mt
which time | selected five rows, equal in
every respect so far as cultivation, soil
&c., is concerned. From one row strir-
ped the blades from the whole Of the
stalk from another had the blades re-
moved from the top down TO the ear; from
a third the blades were taken from the
ear down 10 the roots from fourth the
blades were taken from one side alone cf
the stalk, md from the top to the root,
and upon the last the whole of the fodder
WAS allowed 10 remain. The result WAS
as follows:
After gathering and leaving all of The
different parcels III the h, use for about two
months TO dry, it was weighed. The rar
eel gathered from the stalk ir m which the
whole OF the blades were removed, wcirh
eel 20 poGndsi that from which the fodder
Was ga,hercd from the ear TO the ground.
weighed 80 pounds; blades taken from
one side only, 95 pounds taken from the
'op TO ihc ear, 81 pounds, and where all
the blades were left ON, it weighed 9S.-
This is the record which find upon my
memorandum book. As will lie pcrcciv
ed''he'e seems TO he n discrepancy in refer
ence TO that taken from below the ear
and that taken of altogether This may
be MI error in making the ,ccord or il, In
bcl!ing the parcel, when gathered, Lul
whatever he the cause, give the state
mcmt us | find it recorded.
Now, YOU will notice that there is =
difference Of lbs. in favor of lha; parcel
upon which the blades were LEFT. over
that from which the blades were all ~
moved; this difference is equivalent to
about six pounds per Lushe Of G6 lis
It, therefore, corn is selling tGG cents
per gUshci or enc ccnt per pound
(Which | believe has been about an
average price in this region for srvcra
years past, there will hc Il difference orEG
IN every hundred l,,>Lpls in favor Of lcav
mg all the fodder Oh the stMIk.
New, If the aIks that Weld 100 busl..
els nf corn will also yield 500 rs. Of iod
der, and ii shall sci! :;or Is cent, per han.
drcd, equal 10 S6 for the 500 lbs, the one
counterhalancrs the other in market valmc
and the plaster has besides all the trouble
and expenses Of gathering his fodder for
no compensation AT all and thiS Gciic,c
To be really the case. The cont:aric,v
Of opinion which exists IN reference To-
this matter, lhiuk, admits Of IN easy cx
p.anation, and is owing to tho lmre ut
whlch the blades are stripped fran the
stalk. If they are allowed 10 remain on
until the stripping them of does the corn
no damage, they are not fit fov fodler,So far
as the purposes OF nutrition are concerned
and If they are stripped Of early enough
to make good food for stock, the corn
must undoubtedly bc injured Ly it
The only advantage that | know of
gathering iodIer IN the usual way from
HE corn stalk rs derived alone 10 the plan
ter who cultvates bottom land that is sub
Ject to frequent inundaiions, ms the corn
with tie blades stripped oifand the top OF
the stalk bent down, as is customary here
viii not be so liable to fall down during
ircshet, from the fact that the stalk soon
becomes dry and unyielding aud does not
otivr so much resistance 10 the current Of
OF water passing through il, and will rot
accGmuIate so much sediment upon il, and
tall down in consequence, as it would if
the blades were ict, on. think il much
mare proi,nhko for lie pIaaicr To ies,p
The blades upon his corn, and either gath.
er AL his shuckS and feel upon them in.
stead, or TO SOW corn expressly for forage,
and cut the abundance Of graos wlIivh he
will (afer even the most careful cuIiiva.
lion) find scattered all through his crop
IN the fall, especially if lie will take the
pains TO cut it Mt the proper tune, and
cure /, rs it should be. BY pursuing ei
ther or noih plans, he will find tha, he
can gather much larger quantity of for
age, in the same length OF time. Much
more could be said upon this subject, es.
peciaIy, III reference to cullivaing lex.
pressiy for forage) the various natural
grasses, of which We have an abundance.
But | fear that have already prolonged
tins article beyond the limits that shouId
characterize II true farmers communica.
ton.
Yours truly,
PROGRESS.
South Carolina May, 1856.