The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-09-18
Cutting and Curing Fodder.-Th

fodder-corn crop is one that merits not
only fitting preparation of ground and
good culture, but it calls for special care
in harvesting and curing for winter use.
In this country as yet the perfect cur
ing of fodder corn is somewhat difficult
operation to many farmers. French cul-
tivators, who give considerable atten-
ton to the crop, are beginning to adopt
the ensilage system of preserving tod
der, which has but few experimenters
in this country. Here, old method i'm
provements are being made from season
to season.
The difficulty of curing and saving
corn in its immature state tempts many
into allowing their fodder corn to be-
come too ripe before cutting. Corn,
however, is no exception to other forage
crops in this respect, but ought to be
cut for best results before it is out of
bloom. Chemical analysis has shown
that fodder deteriorates in two ways by
standing in the field, viz: by the lessened
proportion of albuminoids and by de-
creased digestibility. A minor objec-
tion to the crops standing until all the
ears are formed is that the stalks grow
so tall that they are troublesome to han
die, and are liable to fall and lodge TN
der storms. Furthermore, early-cut
fodder is in itself complete ration rich
enough in albuminoids to make good
food without mixing with other materi-
ais; and last, but by no means least i'm
pOrtant, the early-cut crop, according
to the experience of host of practical
cultivatOrs, causes less exhaustion to
the soil. Therefore the advice to cut
fodder corn before it is out of bloom.
Corn for fodder should be harvested
when it is dry and in fair weather; if
possible let it be put in shocks and stand
until cured, when it ought to have shell
it is somewhat difficult to cure corn-fod d.
der-owing to the quantity of water it
contains-sO that it can be stored in
bulk without danger of heating, numer.
Gus devices have been applied to assist
in the operation. An ingenious plan
practised in some sections consists Of
driving two crotched sticks into the
ground and in the crotches laying a
pole, against which the fodder is stacked
to cure. The corn is piled on unit
about fifteen inches thick. The ends
are left open for a free circulation ol
air. When the fodder is quite dry it is
bound in bundles and housed or stacked
Many farmers advocate the following
method against the wholesale way o.
cutting fodder with a reaping machine
and gathering it like hay with rakes
"Cut the stocks with common ligh
corn-cutter, with the corn-cutter il
| the right hand and the cut corn un
| der the left arm, and without dropping
| it on the ground, form into erect snue
Shocks" By this arrangement it is con
| tended that the fodder will dry we'll a
| it stands and may be allowed to remair
all winter.
Not few of our best farmers built
some sort of rack in preference to stor
ing their fodder in barn, even whel
they have plenty of space, because the,
believe it will not dry out and crumbl
up to the same extent. An Ohio far
mer of some twenty years or more ex
perience in the matter at hand, afte
trying various ways of stacking fodder
prefers the following to all modes, a
none but the butts are exposed to tn
weather, and larger quantity can b,
placed close by the feeding place: HI
puts fifty shocks of one hundred hill
each in stack. A few sticks are PLACED
on the ground to raise up the centre o
the stack in order to shed rain from tn
butts throughout the entire stack. Th
stack is made of such diameter as to al
low the tops of the bundles to lap an
thus keep up the centre, single row O
bundles only forming the circle. TIL
finishing of the stack is in form simila
to an ordinary 100-hill shock, and wei
tied with a band. If snow or slee
storm occurs. or heavy rain, an entir
course is Immediately removed and Sc
on end until fed.
A rick of any length desired may b
constructed by first laying in spo
where water will not stand few sheave
or bundles lengthwise, or the direction
the stack is to be made. in order to rails
the centre; then lay the sheaves cross
wise with the butts out, tapping then
sufficiently to keep the centre highes
all the while. Build as high as is con
venient, and finish as you build; top on
by laying few sheaves lengthwise il
the middle, over which stand other
slanting 30 as TO form roof. Begi
feeding from the end you left land YER
sensibly, too-with column of ventils