Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-02-03

A correspondent Of an Ohio exchange
gives his experience in growing corn
for fodder. He says: I select rich
soil, such as would produce good crop
of corn. pillow it any time in May,
when the soil is not too wet, and let ii
lie till weeds begin to show themselves.
then I harrow it thoroughly, which gen
orally destroys the weeds and makes
the surface level and mellow. About
the middle of June [ again pillow it
quite shallow, just enough to destroy all
weeds and make a mellow seed bed. I
SOW Immediately after this blowing, run
ming the harrow once over it, which is
generally sufficient to cover the seed.
l have sown three bushels, and also
two and half bushels shelled corn per
acre. think the latter quantity about
the right amount if all of it is we'll COW
cred. give it no further culture. It
is surprising how quickly it will ger
inmate, and with what rapidity and
luxuriance it will grow.
[ aim to harvest it after it is in tassel
and after the pollen has been shed, but
few days or week later [ consider
not important. Ny opinion is that, at
this stage, by the law of it's nature, the
stalk is most fully charged with that
nutriment which is intended for the
grain; and if cut at this time, and prop
erly cured, this nutriment is retained
in the stalk and leaf, and therefore in
it's best condition to have the most
value as an article of fodder. [ cut it
with the common reaping sickle, laying
it in swaths evenly. q wish some Of
your readers cold suggest a more rapid
and easy mode of cutting IT'D
Now comes the most difficult and
critical part of the whole thing, viz: to
get it well cured and dry before rain or
damp weather causes it to mold. If the
weather is dry [ prefer to let it dry in
the swath for day. Then I stand it
up in small stocks or shocks, tying it
firmly at the top. Previous experience
has taught me never to bind it in bun
dies, as in that way it will be almost
certain to mold. I usually let it stand
in the field till wanted for winter feed
ing. If, however, it becomes thor
oughly dry before then [ haul it into
the barn. But at any time [ find it will
not keep without moulding if moved
away lii a horizontal position. It must
stand perpendicularly IN order to admit
of greater ventilation, The last fall
was admirable for curing and drying it,
and had no difficulty in housing it
safely in my barn early. But the last
| season was an exceptional one.
[ have never ascertalned the product
in tons per acre, but it is always very
large, and sometimes quite enormous
[ am confident it far exceeds our best
timothy meadows. Neither am I able
to say what its nutritive value is COM
pared with meadow hay, but l do know
by observation that no fodder is appa-
rently better relished Or with more avid
ity, by both horses and cattle; and [ feel
convinced that no other fodder keeps
the stomach and bowels Of the horse in
a more healthy condition.
The ease with which this crop may be
grown, the large product on given
area, and it's excellence as winter for
age, makes me free to recommend its
culture to every farmer having suitable
soil. It also leaves the ground in admir-
able condition for potatoes and straw
berries the following year,