Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-07-06
CORN FODDER.

W Z AslNC OultlheSNGl NOlh AONNSA ~
many years, and find it, all things consid-
cred, the most profitable crop we can raise.
1t may be sown during the comparative
season of leisure, just after corn planting.
and secured at the next season of leisure,
just after haying and harvesting After
repeatedly cropping the same ground, we
are satisfied that it rather enriches than
improverishes the land, no grain being
formed and vast bed of roots remaining.
nothing is equal to it for reducing rough,
turfy, weed land to state of cleanliness
and good tilth. We believe it the best fall
low crop in the world to procede wheat.
1t should never be sown broadcast The
imperfections of this mode are the chief rea-
sons that the crop has not become more gen.
orally introduced. 1t requires more seed,
and leaves the ground in fouler condition
than when sown in plowea drills. We
have tried both ways to our entire satisfac-
ton as to the comparative value of each
The following is the best mode for sowing,
cultivating, and securing the crop: PlOw
and harrow the ground as for any other
crop, furrow it with onc-horse plow, three
feet apart; let a man pass a6ng one of these
drills with a balf-bushel basket on his left
arm containing shelled corn, and strew the
seed in the furrow at the rate of about 10
or 90 grains to foot, which will be about
, l-2 or 3 bushels per acre. He will do
this evenly, with little practice as fast as
he can walk We have found by accurate
ly weighing and measuring, that 20 grains
to the foot yielded only two-thirds the crop
afforded by 10 grains to the foot. Imme-
diately after the sower, follows man with
a two-horse harrow lengthwise with the fur
row, and covers the seed. Two men will
thus plant six or seven acres in a day.
When the corn is six inches to foot
high, run a one-horse cultivator between the
rows. This is all the dressing the crop
needs No hoeing is necessary, for the
dense growth soon smothers down all else.
and in the autumn, when the crop is cut off,
the earth is left as clean as newly-plowed
field.
1t is to be harvested about the first of au-
tumn- If the crop is very heavy, or much
lodged it is cut by reaping. If straight
and even, common scythe will answer the
purpose, little practice enabling the opc-
rator to throw it smoothly with the heads
in one direction. After partly drying, for
a day or two, the best way is to tie it in bun
dies and put it up in large shocks, although
raking by horse into winrows for cocks
might answer well for large fields. 1t must
dry for some weeks. 1t can never be safely
put into large stacks. The most perfect
way would be to place it in small stacks, or
long upright rows, under large she'd
Even if the stalks appear perfectly cured
after several weeks exposure, they will
certainly heat and spoil if stacked in the
ordinary way. Hence, the stacks must be
quite small, freely salted, and well venti-
lated by means of three OF four poles placed
upright in the center. We have found the
stalks to retain good condition when left
in large, well-made shocks on the field, till
wanted in winter. Curing is the only diff
iculty with this crop, and this ceases when
understood.
Land that will yield thirty bushels of
corn to the acre will afford about five tons
of dried fodder. Moist land is better than
very dry, as it is more affected by drOuth
than ordinary crops. We have not found
the cost, including interest on the land, to
exceed sl.5O per ton for the dried fodder.
For soiling, or feeding green, corn fodder
often proves Of the highest value when pas
lures are burnt by drouth. For this pur-
pose it may be sown at different periods
till mid-summcr-Conatry Gentleman.