Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-17

There is a wide difference between fodder
corn and corn fodder the latter, when grown
rs forage for cattle, is usually sown broadcast.
or in drills at the rate of from two to four
bushels per acre, seeding with some large va
riety of Western or southern com, making
swamp Of green foliage, succulent, but not
nutritious. Plants of corn grown thus, con-
tain ninety-three per cent. and upwards of
water, good substitute for water in time of
drouth. when some farmers must drive their
herds long distance to Stake the cattle's
thirst.
Such forage will do but little in the milk or
beef producing line, conclusion to which
many farmers have arrived, after having tried
it green. as well rs wilted, which latter is
some improvement ON the former. Farmers
have also tried to cure it. but have become
disguised with it in every form II by chance
there is a long time of dry weather, it may be
cured by stalking up the stocks, or hanging
the bundles across the fence. However han
died. its value is very small. and is worth but
little more than the same weight of swamp
flags. Hence many intelligent. observing far
mers, have turned their attention to better
substitute for green pastures and full hay
crop.
Instead of the former practice of lavishing
from two to four bushels of seed per acre, to
produce an almost worthless crop. from six to
ten quarts of some large varieties of sweet
corn are sown in drills, well MANFRED, and as
early rs the ground is warm enough to ger
inmate corn. When the corn plant is up suf-
ficiently large to hoe, the cultivator should be
run through between the rows as for a field
crop. With such treatment it will expand and
cover the ground, at the same time caring out
quite heavily. When the time arrives that
the fodder is needed to supplement the short
pasture, begin to cut it, doing the same the
lny bqfOrp IL iS IN ln ,tsa1 tbot IL NAV Wilt
thus enhancing very much the nutriment in a
given quantity. Continue to cut as wanted
for feeding, until the corn is full in milk
then cut it all, and stock as is usual with the
field crop. 1t has sufficient stamina to stand
securely for any length of time.
Continue using this fodder corn while it
lasts, and the longer the better for the inter-
est of the dairymen, since from this kind of
feed butter or cheese can be made as extern
siyely and of as fine quality, during the entire
fall, rs from the best pastures in June. This
practice obviates the necessity of turning the
cows upon the meadows, to sap the next
years crop, rs too many feel obliged to do to
keep the cows from failing altogether. This
kind of fodder will yield from eight to ten
tons of dry feed per acre. Some dairymen
think to extend the profits of the crop by
plucking of some of the ears for the hogs.
before feeding the fodder corn to the cows.
but IL - u rel lentuSlule lIdCllCe As an Ola
Quaker once said, in describing the process
of cheese-making, that some people remove
in the morning the yellow scum from the
milk which forms through the night but he
always let it remain and liked the cheese
rather the better for it." So with the cows
they prefer the fodder rather as nature has
left it.
Now for the reason why fodder of the last
description is far more valuable than the kind
described Mt the head of this article The
corn plant grown in dense mass. without
earring, contains very little starch or sugar
in fact any barren stalk of corn. grown in the
field crop, has but small amount of sugar as
against one that produces corn The barren
stalk is destitute of the constituents which
nature has provided to furnish the nutriment
required to perfect the ear. of which the stalk
partakes literally mt the same time, thus in
creasing its value over the barren stalk In
northern Vermont and New Hampshire the
Sanford white corn is being grown quite ex-
tensively for fodder, and this is probably the
next best variety to the sweet corn, since cat
tie eat it quite clean. Dairymen need have
no fears that the cattle will reject the butts.
however large. if the sweet varieties are
grown. No prudent farmer should neglect to
provide against short crop of grass, when
he deliberately counts the cost of so doing.
-"iH Old Farmer, in ImtFicdn CUltirdtor.