The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-20

cultural papers in the Union. We inYit,
the attention of farmers toT.the-- facts and
suggestions the article contains:
Editors Country Gentleman
So much is said and written In favor Of
growing roots Of various kinds that It il
wonderful the custom should not begin te
make some progress among American farm
ers we're it not that experience has Il think
| may ,say) Invariably tended to. show, the
practice Improbable in comparison with a
crop Of corn. The advocates Of root culture
derive their ideas mainly from its success.
full operation among English farmers, with
whom 1t Is staple crop and takes the place
of our corn crop. The difference in the eli
mates Of the two countries is sufficient cause
for its non-success here. To small extent,
ruta bagas, carrots, &c., may be successful
~ grown but that the main stay of our
nocks and herds will ever be Of that de-
scription of feed admits of no argument
that can successfully controvert the teach
ings of experA-nce. ,,i
The impossibility of feeding roots largely
without expensive aids and necessary ap-
planes will always prevent the ordinary
farmer from putting any reliance on them /;
and, fortunately for us, wehaYe substitute
which more than compensates for the SEEM
ing want. 1t is unnecessary to soy that
refer to our corn crop. In its culture it
takes the place of the turnip crop as fall
low, cleaning the land and rendering it mel
low and in good order for the succeeding
crop. Its yield in money value SURPRISES
that Of most other crops while being most
ly all consumed on the farm, as . matter
Of necessity almost, it tends greatly to the
benefit of the soil in returning to it the ele-
ments of future fertility. Less bulky in
many degrees than a crop of roots, it is
handled with more economy Of time and
labor, and can be stored without any ex-
pensiye receptacle having to be prepared
for it: and yet, while oil admit its value,
there is no product of the farm that is more
wastefully treated than the stalks or tod-
der. Generally few bundles are thrown
out to the cattle promiseuously gathered in
the barn yard scramble ensues; the
fodder is trampled in the mud, dung, or
mire, as the case may be, frozen UP in the
night, and there remains till spring-a
crude, undigested mass, useless for manure,
troublesome to the last degree to fork over
and work up; and when hauled out and
spread, q source Of disgust and weariness-
choking the plow and tangling up under
the harrow, and, after all, lying and bleach
ing for two or three seasons in the sun be-
fore it finally disappears. Thus. crop
equal in value, when rightly economical, to
the whole cost Of preparing, planting, and
harvesting, field Of corn, is made worse
than useless for the trouble is creator than
the benefit to be derived from It. =;
Now, let US take field Of corn and watch
its rlpening; as soon as the ears are well
glazed, and before the stalks lose theirgreen
color, let it be " cut up" shocked, and we'll
tied at tho top, that no rain may enter there
let care be taken to spread the butts we'll
for the wind to dry up the moisture rapidly,
that the saccharine juices may not ferment
and spoil. As soon as properly cured, draw
i'll and put under cover. Thus far, most
careful farmers generally proceed. Now
let them procure O cutting machine, one
suitable to run hy6horse- power or hand, as
desired. With such one, three bundles Of
stalks can be cut into chaff not over half an
inch long, the stalks.crushed and broken up,
making excellent feed, in five minutes by
hand--onc man operating alone. Where al
| extensive stock iskept, one horse on tread.
power will run the utterand cut three bun
dies q minutc-two men assisting.
Take this chaf and thoroughly wet it
sprinkle chopped feed, oats, corn, and bran
| Tor whatever it may beg thereon, q hand
full of salt, and feed bushel basket of thu
mess per head Of full -grown animals. Thi
allowance twice day, with good oat straw
or clover hay at noon, will keep COWS il
good milk through the winter and briu,
them out fat in the spring; will also keel
horses in good working condition (givinI
them three feeds q day., young stock il
good growth, and store hogs and sheer
| thrifty and hcalthful. This is not theory
but the result of my own constant practice
and will in conclusion give in detail thu
figures that will elucidate the matter ant
make it.clear and palpable. 81
| have the following stock Apair o
horses weighing about 5000 pounds, o larg
team comparatively, three COWS in milk
eight head of heifers, four of them in cali
| thirty pure Leicester sheep, and q few stor
hogs. For this stock cut up morning an
evening FIVE bundles of fodder; (when
say fodder mean the whole stalk cut clos
to the ground.) Each horse gets three quart
of chopped feed (corn, oats, and rye, j
| equal parts) at meal, mixed with his fod
der, bushel being sufficient for the two
For each COW one quart of feed, consistin
of corn ears chopped with oats and whea
bran in about equal parts ;or, in other words
quart Of this feed is mixed with eac
bushel of cut fodder. Two bushels Of tn
mixture will make a feed for the thirty hea
| Of sheep. A shovelful will make o goo
| breakfast for middling sized hog, and h
| will eat his fill with evident satisfaction
For calves and heifers about half a busht
is feed for each one. Ten bundles {
stalks are equal to three shocks, three shock
are the product of 100 hills Tor exactl
Ix7x3-l47)-thus one acre of corn Wi
| furnish about 900 bundles of stalks and
little calculation will enable any one t
| irurc Up how many head of stock he ca
feed from his supply of fodder. The pre-
cess Of steaming would, have no doubt
greatly increase the economy Of feedin
corn-stalks over the mere wetting with col
water, but the latter plan is feasible t
every one, while the former is not and tn
man who uses mere cold water to dampel
the feed has not to 60 through the undtgni
fei process according to the New for'
/ ,sleralhcr) of cooking for his animals
| When farming is carried on in accordanc
with the common principles of business,
| will become an axiom that labor saved j
muscle gained and labor to our stock save
and suffering spared is meat put on thei
bones, which is worth so many cents OR dol
lars to the owner; also, that material use
wastefully is money squandered. Th
coming farmer will be the man who sees