Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-17

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When planted for this purpose,
early and late varieties should be
used. The early, eight-rowed New
England field varieties, and Crosby
and other early sweet varieties should
be planted for August feeding; and
the Southern White, Western Yellow
and Stowell's Evergreen Sweet should
be used for later feeding. The best
method OF raising a valuable crop of
any of these varieties is to plant in
drills 40 or ~ inches apart, with one
bushel of seed to the acre, and cult
vate as for field crop. The thicker
stand will cause the stalks to be
smaller, but there will be n plentiful
formation of ears, which will not in
jure the quality, and if suffered to
nearly ripen will add much TO the
value of an acre for winter feeding.
When the ear is in the milk, it has
the greatest value for the production
of milk or flesh in feeding. When
corn is sown thickly, so as not to
permit the formation of ears, it is
ready for feeding when in tassel. 1t
then contains all the nutritious ele-
ments of ripened corn in soluble
condition. But there is prevalent
error of opinion in reference to the
value Of small and large stalks. The
general opin on is that small stalks
are more nutri ious and less woody
than large ones. But to show that
this is an error, let any one select
twenty pounds Of large stalks in tas-
sci, and likewise 20 pounds of small
ones, also in tassel. Now take a
small, hard-twisted twine and meas
ure the circumference at the butt of
all the stalks, large and small, and
see which has the most outside sur
face to a given weight. If we are to
suppose that the large stalks average
inch in diameter, and the small
stalks inch in diameter, then it
would take foursmal stalks TO weigh
as much as one large stalk, and the
circumference Of four half-inch stalks
will be just twice as much as a one
inch stalk. Therefore, the small
stalks are likely TO have twice the
outside rind of the large ones, pro-
vided you raise crop equal in weight
of each kind. The rind of a large
stalk is little harder and tougher
than the small one, but since there is
only half as much Of it, we cannot
properly say that the large stalks
have more indigestible woody fibre,
but rather less.
When the corn has been raised in
the manner described and the ear has
reached the milk, the best way to
feed it is to run it through n cutter
and cut it into halfinch lengths. If
tie dairymen has also second cut
ting of clover to mix with it, then
mix in one-quarter clover while cut
ting the corn, and cut both together.
This mixture will produce a large
flow of excellent milk. The proper
elements are well combined in the
two foods. But If he has no clover,
then he may mix one.third green mil
let, or green oats and peas, or Hun
gaIian grassland If he has no other
green food, then let him mix ia one
fourth Of clover or other good hay,
and it will all be eaten clean and pro-
duce good milk.
But If the dairymen have no straw
cutter or power, when the corn Is in
the succulent condition we have
mentioned. cows will eat it pretty
clean, and the ears will give it more
value than when grown too thick to
ear. Sweet corn is richer in album
inoids and fat, and is preferable to
the common field corn as green fod-
der, but you can seldom raise as
large crop-so that 1t might be
as we'll to plant about half of each
kind.
Miiet is an excellent green crop
when successful; and to be success
ful the soil must be of very fine tilth.
A fine, rich loan is perhaps best for
this fine seed. A heavy crop of mil
let stands four to five feet high, with
heads to six inches long. A large
crop onght TO weigh 10 to l2 tons
green, or about half as much as good
fodder corn but il has nearly double
the nutrimcnt of fodder corn in its
green state, 80 that large crop OF
millet has q great value, whether fed
alone or In connection with fodder
corn. II is usually sufficiently ma
tured for feeding green in 60 to Is
days.
Hungarian grass is also a species
of millet, having a somewhat shorter
stalk and shorter head, but producing
fodder of about the same quality.
to Is tons of green Hungarian fodder
Is good crop. Soil required is about
the same as for millet.
Peas aud Odts-this makes an adj
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