The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-20
Food for stock.

F.
VALUE OF CORN FODDER.
DIR. Nichols, in Journal Of Chemistry,
says: " The opinion we have always
held upon the question Of the value Of
green corn fodder for mich cows has been
that when raised for broadcast sowing 1T is
nearly worthless, but when sown in hills
or in drills, and cultivated, with access Of
air and sunlight, it is Of high value. Dur
in, the present season we have made some
experiments to test the correctness Of
these views. Stalks. were collected from
a field where the seed was sown broadcast,
and also stalks growing in drills upon the
same field, and they were dried in
a drying closet to expel the mois
ture. Both specimens were planted
at the same time (the 9th of May,
and it was found that the broadcast sowing
contained % per cent. Of water, those from
drills SO per cent. of water. Thus it was
shown that the difference of solid matter in
the two was relatively as 8 to II per cent.
The solid matter was composed of starch,
gum, sugar, and woody fibre. There was
almost an entire absence of sugar and
gum in the stalks from the broadcast
sowing, while the stalks that had grown
under the influence of light and air
held those nutrient principles in con-
siderable quantities. The stalks were
collected at the period of growth just
before the ear begins to form. period
when most farmers begin to cut the fod-
der for their cows. Our experiments upon
corn fodder have afforded us important in
formation upon other points. We find that
the stalks cut before they reach certain
stage of growth are deficient in nutrient
matter, and therefore it is waste to feed
them too early. The corn plant, like all
other vegetable structures. has but one OBJ
ject or aim in its growth, and that is to pro-
duce seed. It is engaged during its whole
life in storing up large quantities of starch,
which is to be used when the pressing
occasion arrives, or the seed vessels ma
ture, to form by some subtle, mysterious
changes the rich nutrient principles which
are found in seeds. AS soon as this strug-
gle is over, the corn plant, like all ANNALS,
die natural death. 1t is not necessary for
frost to strike it,; it dies from simple ex-
haustion. The proper time to cut and
weeks which succeed infiorescence, or in
other words, they should not be cut until
the flower is fairly developed, and the ear
CoihuicuCcS 10 itIih Auu any CUIIl tiistb ID
SO planted that the ear cannot form and
mature is practically worthless as fod-
der. Farmers may learn from these facts
that corn designed to be cut for fodder
should be planted at two or three periods
during the season; some fields quite early,
othersesomewhat later, and still others as
late as is safe. In this way, when tho hot,
dry months of July and August are
reached, and The pastures ialter, supply
Of fodder is secured at a proper stage of
growth to afford the largest amount of
nutriment.
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