The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-08-25
6bs Ganrastet Ga3stts,


1@In view of the present high
prices of forage, it may seem quite un-
necessary to remind our farmers how
greatly important it is not only TO each
individual, but to the country at large,
that every available means Of incrcas-
ing the supply be carefully adopted,
Hay will hardly fall below $40 per
ton. At this price it is certainly re-
munerative, and the prudent fan mer
will endeSvor to have as much to sell
as possible, One way to effect this
end, is to keep no more stock over
winter than necessary to carry on the
farm. But above all be careful to Sc
cure forage which too many have here
tofore allowed to go to waste. The
crop Of oats this year in this section
has been on an average, fair. The
straw if carefully stacked or housed, is
excellent for feed and must greatly
aid the judicious farmer in carrying
his stock through the winter
The wheat crop though light still fur.
nishes fair quantity of good straw,
all of which will bo required before
next May.
As the threshing season is at hand,
we urge all to carefully secure their
straw Stacks. Even if held for sale
which no wise farmer would do, the
high prices will justify having it we'll
stacked, and not loosely piled up to
be thoroughly soaked By the fall rains.
Another source whence tho ccono-
mical farmer may obtain valuable for
age is the corn or sorghum crop. The
blades of either of these if pulled at
the proper time, and thoroughly cur.
cd, make the most valuable feed the
farmer can use. Last season, at our
suggestion some of our lirc farmers,
preserved the blades Of their Sorghum
or Sugar cane, when preparing it for
the mill, and found in tho winter, that
fed to their cows the yield ofmilk was
surprising, and that all their stock
relished it highly.
The sorghum crop of GalIia county
is becoming Of some Importance. II
from it, can be secured fodder enough
10 enable the farmer to sell his hay
ty so much is its value increased be.
cause the labor bestowed in pulling of
the blades is required in order to fl
the cane for grinding Save your Sor,
ghum blades, and test their value thif
season for forage.
The value Of corn blades, all under.
stand fully. The difficulty seems ia
be, in tho cost of labor Attending the
curing of it. This to somo extent is
true. Labor is scarce and high. So
is forage. Tho price Of one keeps pace
with the other. Tho cost of labor re-
quired to cut off and set up u field oI
corn, will generally pay to top and
blade it. In the first case you have a
large quantity of heavy stalks unfit
for food which after blades and tops
are eaten off become u burben TO you
and are Of no value rs manure. In the
second instance, you secure tho only
valuable portion as fodder and avoid
the heaviest part Of the labor. The
first requires stout men to do well
whilst tho other can bo done by wo'
men or children. Tho 'Contrabands'
with which the country is filed, will
understand this mode Of curing corr
fodder, for it is tho only one mado use
of in tho South. Set few of theil
women and children to work in youl
field and test tho value of it over thu
old slovcnly system of cutting up ant
thus losing ono half the fodder by OK
posure to the woathcr.-- [Gallipoli
Journal.