Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-06-11
AarifMItnral.

HUNGARIAN GRASS AND MiLLEr, The
Lenawee Farmers Club at late meeting dis
cussed the subject Of substitutes for hay, as the
meadows and grass lands have suffered SO Sc
verely during the past Winter that II u feared
the grass crop, and especially clover, will be
short ia quantity II not poor In quality, We
take the following report Of the discussion from
the Adrian Times
Mr.. Geo. Jones was the first to speak, aud
though 1t very necessary to find substitute for
hay, as the hay crop will no doubt be very light
the coming season. He recommended "Hun-
garian grass" as the best substitute. had rails
ed 1t last year and found Ii to pay well. Would
not SOW less than half bushel per acre, and 1t
can be sowed any time up TO the LIST N July, IL
not too dry Spring. He would cut |. as be
would any grass, for hay, only would be careful
to cut before 1t began 10 ripen. The seed usu.
ally costs from $l.25 TO 81 per bushel, making
it a cheap grass to SOW. He sowed after his
corn-p planting was done. It is a very good feed
tor cows and horses, and is much cheaper than
corn fodder. The ground should be we'll fitted
for other Spring crops.
j. A. Rogers said that Hungarian grass"
was something he knew but little about. The
only substitute for hay he knew about was
sowed corn fodder. He preferred to sow In
drills about three feet apart so 1t can be cultiva-
ted. Would cut 1t and put it into shocks, as
We put up other corn, and 1t will cure out and
not spoil. He heard 1t said that Hungarian
grass was not good for horses, and would like
| to hear more about 1t from these of the club
| who knew how 1t was.
s. d. Mann said that II allowed to get ripe,
| and then fed 10 any stock without threshing, Il
would be Injurious as much so as any grain.
The seed is very strong, nutritious food, ana II
| in too large quantities will founder horse as
quick as wheat or corn. But for hay, IL should
be cut while in the blossom or before the seed
had begun to fill, or II left til ripe, should be
well threshed, and then the straw is better than
most of our hay, and Will he eaten all up by a l.
l most any stock. 1t is much cheaper 10 raise
than sowed corn, because II can be cut with a
mower and cured like any other hay, while
sowed corn is diff ,ult to harvest and presel We
without molding Hungarian occupies about
| the same time IN maturing that buekwheat
does aud leaves the ground in as good condi-
ton, without the bother of an afier-growth for
many Yeas. II tee ground Is very rich, not
less than three peck, to the acre will dD, for II
less, the hay will grow so rank and coaise that
it will not be good hay, but II the ground Is not
rich less seed will be better. 1t Is profitable 10
raise for the seed, yielding often twenty BUSH
| els to the acre.
Edison Walker had never tried to raise any
substitute for hay, except corn-stalks. He he'd
| thou sht that the usual way OF raising corn was
about as well as any way, and f,d u i,bc ut
| husking, We have learned that we can feed
stock on clean corn-meal. Can keep COWS as
| well, or even better, on four quarts ar meal
| alone than on three quarts of meal and fiy e
pounds Of hay. Hay In the main 10 the best
and most natural food for stock perhaps, but
as will probably he the case this year, DUR hay
| crop sometimes fails US. The corn crop being
an easy crop on soil, and an easy crop tp raise,
was good substitute for hay, and as gpod for
stock as any. Thirty acres Of cora would keep
large stock through, and the time oflarvest-
ing comes at that season of the year when We
are not in 50 much of hurry.
G. w. jones had raised and fed Hungarian
grass to a team and 1t costs him only about
one half as much as when he fed hay Had
experimental on this crop. and was satisfied
that IL was much cheaper and better.
Frederick Webb thought corn fodder would
produce more milk than any other feed he had
ever tried, and if sowed in drills, and not to O
coarse, would be good substitute for hay.
Mr.. w. Ii. Coyn had no experience in Any
crop as substitute for hay except sowed corn
THIS he had raised for good many years, but
had more or less trouble in curing 1t and keep
ing IL for Winter use. II must be left out In the
shock to keep; he could not put it into the
barn without its molding. 1t will do well fol
Fall feed or early Winter feed. Oats cut be.
fore they are ripe and cured as hay, is one Of
the best substitutes for hay there is, and stock
like it.
Geo. Jones argued that Hungarian grass can
De sowed, and will mature after it is too late &c
plant corn, and after 1t is certain that all other
Crops will prove a failure. There is no danger
Of hurting horse or COW if it is cut before it i.
ripe. He had tried 1t fairly, and found it bet
Ter thau corn fodder, even with corn and ALL
1t does not seem to draw hard on the soil, end
stands up better than oats. He had drilled
corn in the same field, and the Hungarian fod.
der did not cost half as much as the corn, and
he would rather have ii by good deal.
S. b. Mann again said that during the pas
1 Ff..N.x
Winter good many farmers had been saving
ialiy hity per cent. OF their corn fodder by cut
tng II hne. II cut fine, no; over three -eighth'
OF an lnch stock would eat 1t all. Many of the
nest farmers in the country are now cutting
Their fodder, and II our hay crop is short The
coming season Will be remedy i'll this way.