Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-06-19
sarm anO houstboIO.
c--ss~

As the season is near at hand for pro-
viding for iull supply of fodder for fall
and winter use. there is the question Of
the value OF corn fodder to supply de-
fciencics in succulent food. that fire.
queutly occur to a greater or less eX-
tent in consequence Of drOuth. or some
Other cause. that NAV diminish the crop
o. good grass in those sections where
sock and dairy products form the lead
ing profits OF the people. | lave seen
from the past discussions Of this subject,
that there j. great diversity OF opinion
as to the value Of corn fodder for milk
or flesh producing properties, as com
pared with grass. These differences
arise, think, from 8 mistaken view Of
the relative value Of corn fodder and the
conditions which affect it, real merit
II Is not whether corn fodder is "a val
liable as good grass for milk production,
but whether il i not the most valuable
and convenient substitute within The
reach OF the dairy farmer. The success
or failure of those who favor or con-
denim il. almost ALWAYS arises from
conditions Of It's growth or production.
which they, in forming their judgments
have entirely overlooked. or failed to
appreciate. Tie law Of nature absolute
~ requires that everything possessing
animal or vegetable life must have
full supply Of air and space with all the
other conditions for it, perfect develop
ment. We would not expect a flock Of
sheep to live and thrive well. crowded
into close pen, nor family OF children
living in damp and dark cellar. with
neither fresh air nor sunshine. to he
healthy. And vet those farmers who
sow their fodder corn so thick that il
canno; find standing room. and conse-
queuily grows up yellow. sickly, and
innntritious. are about as unreasonable
in expecting satisfactory results. II l..
no more fit for cattle in this condition
than famished and sicklv sheep
would be for the family Of iis owner
About the wear ls40, when lived
nj home with nv father, in Narragan-
set. Rhode Island. read Josiah
Quincy's first work on 'Soiling Cattle.
and from that gained the idea of rails
ing corn for fodder. That was the first
corn ever saw sown for that purpose
Oar land was OF a hard. stony surface,
with loose, gravelly subsoil, which
required more water than we usually
got to keep mp the supply OF pasture
feed through August aud September
entire; hence the necessity of & snbs,i-
tute. will not relate the many Jokes
aud fun that our good old farmer neigh
bors had at my expense-'at that bows
book farming But the practice soon
became universal among our best farm
ers. From that time TO the present
l have praciised raising il TO greater
or less extent In variety of way.. and
/ find from experience. that about
bushel and halt of seed 10 an acre
evenly distributed in drills three feet
apart. with the land well supplied with
manure, gives the best results. | al
ways run the cultivator through 1t three
or four times in the early stages Of
growth. If any is left for winter feed.
would Gu, it up before frost Injuries it,
and shock it without binding into bun
dies, but bind it around the top as
would field corn, and let it stand until
the weather becomes settled, cold and
dry before hauling into the barn.
never have fed any hay from which
cows would yield more, or better milk
in winter, than from cornstslks in Mis-
condition.-t Hus5andman.