Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-04-08
iri.,en for ne Sdaa,r qj 'Ae Ss"G aud Pl"'sr''
Fodder Corn.

todGer Corn.
Readers Of agricultural papers nccd not bo
told what fodder corn is; yet, how few avail
themselves of the rich abundance Of proyond-
or which small patch Of groand will afford
them sowcd in cjrn We have tried it broad-
cast and in drills and prefer the latter mode Of
culture, because one or two rlonslinSs incrcas-
es the quantity and adds to its quality. 1t is
very profitable when sowod on rich land. II
the land is poor il should be aided by plcnti-
Iul supply Of manure in the dril. We hsyc
seen it stated that six tons Of good fodder were
obtained from n single acre That resul, could
occur only on land Of exceeding fertility
Fro.n rather careless estimate we have no
doubt OF having made four thousand pounds
on the samo quantity of land pretty heavily
manured in the drill Our plan was this: tho
ground, after having been broken up, was laid
of with Iurrows three feet part with a root
or rlow the burrows wcro then widsncd aud
somewhat deepened with shovel. The corn
Isclected secdl was sprinklei in thrse burrows
at the rate Of at least two bushels por acre
The manure was pentifully applied upon il
and tho whole lightly covered With small
rco.et. When the corn was hcr six to eight
inches high it received the lrst ploughing--
In ffteen or twenty days II was ploughed tho
second and last time with q sweep. 1t was
cut and freely used In lts gsven state for horses
and cows. and is excellent food FOR both Civ
en- to them In moderate quantities. When
cured Il Is rs good as the blades which are
stripped nom the stalks to Tho injury Of tho
corn. Many think ,ha. cotn is injured as
much as tho fodder Is worth when obtained In
this way. If six tons can be reapcd from ono
aero Is Il not utterly Unreasonable TO adhere 10
The old method Of gathering fodder ~hcnit will
not only njure The coin but requires from
twenty-five TO thirty acres to produceas much.
It would seem to be absurd even if only three
tons could bs obtained per aero Of fodder
corn.
We have heard several persons say that they
tried the fodder corn on a small scale and tho
yield dill not equal their expectations. Tho
failure we discovered was owing, In each case,
to loose preparation. On good land, with
careful manuring and cultivation, VIC will guar
anteo four or ivo thousand pounds Of excel
lent fodder.
correspondent Of tho Maine Farmer
wrote. "After trying variety Of different
kinds Of feed, I find the fodder of
sweet corn cut when gtccn and well cured in
the shock the best milk-producing and butter
making food tha, have used after tho grass
failsw
We have found Il good FOR horses and cows
when fed TO them green or cured. II sown IN
March three crops may be obtained from tho
same land but two would be better for each
crop would be more maturcd
Small patches, sown at intervals Of two OF
three weeks, beginning in March, would keep
one supplied with either green or cured fodder
a considerable portion Of the Spring and DUR
ing the whole Summer and Fall, besides af-
fordug an ample supply for the Winter.
Is any one fearful that his fodder or hay
will no. last bis crop, sow corn now and you
need have no further fears on that subject
1t is difficult to abandon old customs and bab-
it's They arc often moro influential than pre-
cept men even become so accustomed 10 in
convcnienccs that they cease to account them
as trials We feel assured, however, that il
they will fairly try what We have suggested
they will be induced by interest 10 abandon
the old reliance for long forage taken from
their growing corn. EXPERIENCE.