Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-12-03
Agricultural.


TIE CoRS CRoP.-From the most
reliable accounts it seems that the corn
crop, though good. is not near as full
as that of last year. 1t is good one,
but it may be years before We have
another such one as that of 1872. In
some of the good corn districts there is
not half the crop, especially in the south
west; further east it has been about the
average. 1t is now that the wisdom of
burning corn for fuel may be proftably
discussed. People used to say where
is the difference whether We sell 1t for
% cents per bushel or buy coal at the
same price. But there is one element
in the question not thought of, namely,
that it was unlikely for many years that
corn would be so cheap again, while
coal or timber as fuel would probably
stand for years at near the same figures.
Ii, therefore, corn, by being Kept over
to another year, would double itself in
value, while coal remained the same, it
is more profitable to save than to burn
it. Though some was burned last year,
it was but a very inconsiderable por-
ton A large quantity seems to have
been kept over; enough, in all proba-
bility, TO make mp for any serious def
cheney. There is, however, a likelihood
of an increased demand SO that, on
the whole, prices may advance little
over that OF last year, though 1t is not
likely to be very considerable. Next
year will most likely be the most pro-
fitable corn year. The old stock being
exhausted, unless there should be a
very great oyerproduction, which is
hardly likely, corn viii probably bring
a better paying price than 1t has for
years. The great overproduction Of
last year will keep people in the far
West chary of planting too much for
several years to come.
In the East, not only has the corn
crop been tolerably fair, but the corn
fodder was cut in excellent condition,
generally speaking. This is becoming
as valuable as the corn itself IN this
region. For feeding horned cattle, and
IN some instances horses, it saves con-
siderable amount of hay, which can thus
be marketed TO a good profit.
FEED FOR PRoDUcNG MILK--It is
well settled in the opinion of all our
best dairymen, that bran greatly pro-
notes the milk secretion in cows, and
it is fed almost universally. About
equally mixed with corn meal is the
usual proportion. This mixture seems
TO promote both quantity and quality
of milk. From several sources we hear
that buckwheat bran is great milk
producer, and ii is now being used con-
siderably among our Chester county
dairymen In about the same proportions
as the other.
Thomas Gawthorp, near West Grove,
Chester county, Pa, also by repeated
trials with his own COWS, has fully salts
fed himself that they do as well with
corn and cob meal and bran as with
pure corn meal and bran. The amount
of nutriment in corn cobs is SO very
small that this result will have to be
explained on the suppOsition of the
ground cob acting to promote digestion
10y distending the stomach. The pres
ence of bulky material being necessary
to promote distension and fill up the
stomach of ruminaUing animals, before
aperfect digestion can be accomplished,
is frequently lost sight of. Hungarian
grass is also found for mich cows to
be rather superior to the ordinary run
OF hay. The last year or two, Hungs-
rian grass has loomed up wonderfully
in the estimation of our dairy farmers [;
and very large scope Of land viii be
sowed with it the coming season. 1t
natures for cutting in about sixty days,
and produces two 10 four tons per acre
the latter OF course on good soils.
~
allowance of seed. Where a good hay
market is convenient, this substitution
of Hungarian grass for common hay in
home feeding will be clear additional
source of profit.