Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-07-14
CORN FODDER AND TURNIPs

The drouth that has prevailed in
20 large portion Of the West will
occasion a short crop of hay for the
coming winter. The army must have
fodder and>such prices will given
for what can be spared that farmers
viii find it greatly to their profit to
provide other feed for their stock.
There are two crops that can yet
be grown for this purpose-sowed
corn and t,rnips. The immense
Aocks of Ohio. Michigan and the west
generally can be fed through the win
ter almost exclusively upon turnips.
When in the Muskingum Valley dur
ing late cold winter, we saw far
mer eInptying two horse load Of
frozen turnips npon the hard frozen
ground and could but notice the ap-
parent pleasure with which the white
flock gnawed them. On enquiry, the
farmer said that his sheep had never
done SO well on any other food. OF
course, he gave them an occasional
breakfast of corn, g Now as an i'm
-mense amount Of sheep feed can thus
be produced at little cost, and as the
agricultural situation is such as to oc-
casion some just anxiety, as to the fu-
tnre, and as money is largely involv-
ed we can be pardoned for exhorting
the farmers to raise 'trirnips. They
will be found good for cows. in con
inection with other food, and no kind
of stock would starye upon them.
Then as to corn fodder, it is not
yet too late to produce It. Turn un-
der some meadow that has been 50
Fhg in grass as to need plowing, II
you have no other good land to spare,
and SOW about three bushels per acre
If you SOW it broadcast In a late
number we gave some directions
about sowing in drills. 81 el Eas Z
Ifthe growth of fodder is not more
than from four to six feet in height,
1t may be cut with a strong grain
cradle. A short scythe and but three
strong fingers, are the best. Cradle
it down, and let two hands follow
with rakes; take 4 swarth each, and
tit in small shocks perfectly loose
no binding in sheayes about it
Let the shocks be of sufficient size to
stand up well; tie the tops firmly with
a handful of rye straw, and let It alone
until winter; and if well put up, it
will require but little attention to
keep it from falling down, and when
once firmly set. will shed water 50 as
not to wet half an inch deep. If,
however, the growth of the fodder
should be very large, the best way to
cit it is to take the German sickle,
throw it in punches, and put up as
before, and draw as needed in the
winter. 1t can not be put up in q
NOW. however dry it may appear to
be, without heating and spelling.
The advantages of making corn
fodder in this way instead, of bay,
are these:-First you can plow up any
rough, dry, hillside, and get from
four to six tuns Of the best fodder per
acre. 1t will grow and make good
crop in season when clover and tim
othy will entirely fail Youcan cut
and put it up just as well in cloudy
as in clear weather 1t tdoes not need
to be cut in the throng of harvest,
but may be left until the after part oi
seeding, as few frosts will do it but
little injury, 1t yields three times
the quantity per acre that ordinary
meadows will. 1t does not cost over
one-half the labor per tun to make it
that hay does. = - & -
The causes from whence failures
generally occur, are these:-Sowing
on too strong soil. producing a
heavy, igneous stock, and apt to
lodge, Sowing too little seed, which
also results in heavy s.alk. Tieing
it up in sbeaves when cut, producing
mold, and finally rotting. Slowing q
quantity of it away in a NOW, pro-
ducing fermentation and injury.