The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-10-09
agricultural.
How to Cure Indian Corn for Fodder.

Having received several letters making in.
quirics in regard to my method OF curing
corn fodder, thought, US the inquiries came
from readers Of your valuable paper, would
give you my method for publication.
In order to have the fodder good, the corn
should be cut up while it is yet grcen-that
is, before the leaves and stalks begin to dry
up. Any time after the corn becomes hard
Tor clazed) the corn may be cut without in
jury TO tho grain.
mako Il stanchion for tho shock by tying
the tops of four hills together, thus X-then
the fodder should be set up in tho angles as
nearly perpendicular as possible. After set
ting up six or eight hills, the tops should be
tied together with wisp of grass or stalk !;
this makes firm beginning for q shock
The shock should contain at least la hills,
as the larger it is tho less proportionately il
will be exposed to the weather. Bear in
mind that tho stalks should be set up as
nearly perpendicular as possible. Lastly the
shock should be well tied at the top with u
band Of rye straw.
Corn put up in this manner will not fall
down before husking-time. usually husk
my corn in from four to six weeks after cut
ting it up. When the corn is husked, the
fodder should be tied with straw in conven-
lent sized bundles for pitching, and it is bet.
ter TO put the stalks from two shocks into
one, and tic the tops as before; then, If the
weather is dry, it may be hauled at any time
and put in stacks convenient to barn. There
is no safety in putting it in the NOW, howev-
or dry it may appear, Tor tho pith in the butt
of the stalk is great absorbent. and as long
as the stalks stand on the ground il will 70.
tain moisture enough to spoil the stalks If
put into a NOW, but when they are stacked up
so that the butts come to the sun and air the
stalks will not spoil.
make nv stacks in the following man
ner, so that we can always haul in an entire
stack at times Take pole, from to 3
inches thick and from Is to Is feet long, and
set it firmly in the ground; then build the
stack around it. laying the tops in against
the pole and the butts out, keeping the mid
die full as in other stacks. Mt the top make
cap of bundle Of stalks.
Corn that is sown for fodder should be
treated rs nearly in the same manner as pos
siblc, and YOU will have good sweet food Tor
your cattle, which they will need no coa1ing
20 eat.
Your motto, in preparing corn fodder for
stock, from first 10 last, must be-"W Whatev.
cr is worth doing at all is worth doing well. '"
IL Is no wonder that cattle should refuse to
eat stalks, that have stood where they grew
Till the winds and frosts OF autumn have
bleached and tried out every particle OF nu.
triment-thcn cut and thrown in heaps (they
do not deserve the name Of stacks), where
they are completely soaked by the rain; then
after being husked thrown into mows or
larro stacks. where they heat and mould,
and only come before the cattle when hall
are rotten. and the other half tainted with
the fumes of that which is only fit for the
manure yard. y.
There is very great waste for want OF
care. in the curing Of this crop. This year.
especially, owing to the drought and conse,
quent short crop of hay, cornstalks should
be secured with great care, and fed in the
most economical way.-I. NJ. ALLEN, IN
Country Gentleman.