Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-10-26
FODDER CORN AND CORN FODDER.

D
Seasonablo suggestions for farmers
who keep milch cows, arc always in
order.
James Burnham, dairy farmer near
EImira, n. Y, as reported by the HuS,
JdndmdR, keeps twenty cows, and sells
their milk in the city Last year he
planted ten acres Of corn in hills about
foot apart in the row-the space be.
tween about three feet nine inches.
Besides this four acres were planted
IN the same way, except that the
spaces between the bills one way were
divided and the hills placed half way,
making the planting just twice as
thick as for an ordinary corn crop. In
addition TO all this, he had ten acres OF
corn planted in the ordinary checks,
about three feet nine inches between
hills. His meadow measured Just seven
acres, and the crop was light This
provision was for twenty cows and
three horses steadily kept, but changes
in the dairy often placed q great mum.
Der of cows on the farm. Now for the
feeding. Let it be understood first,
that the hay cut was no more than
sufficient TO supply the horses through
Winter. Tho green corn stalks and
ears Mr.. Burnham began feeding the
first day Of August, for the drouth had
begun to shorten pasturage, and at
any risk he was determined to keep
up milk production. From that day
all through Autumn, the cows had
each day one full feed of corn, and
after q short supply OF pumpkins were
gone, two feeds Then when Winter
came they were fed all they would
eat--corn and ears-clean through to
grass along ia May, and the corn was
not all used up. As to tho hay there
is left considerable portion of the
crop, perhaps more than q quarter Of
oil that was stored last year.
The way Mr. Burnbam saved his
corn fodder is worthy of note. lie
cut the corn when the ears were fairly
beginning TO glaze, and set up in shocks
exactly as it he had intended to husk
the crop. After curing suitably in the
field be bound stalks 10 convenient
bundles for handling and drew TO the
barn where a bay about 3s feet long
and % feet wide made storage room.
In this he placed a layer Of bundles
the stalks and unhusked cars-and
then a layer Of wheat straw a foot or
more thick, these layers alternated up
to the root, except that oat straw was
used after the other was exhausted
Out Of this big NOV came all the fod.
der used by cows and horses, except
occasionally handful Of hay to the
latter, or TO the cows a little off their
feed. Toward Spring 1t became nee.
cssary to strip off the largest cars to
avoid waste, and later, when II was
thought that good hay would be a
proper preparation for the cows TO 90
to grass, the coarse fodder was with.
held entirely, and in three days there
was a decrease Of thirty.one quarts in
the milk yield, and the cows were
turned TO grass to restore the loss.
This is the story Of Mr.. Burnham's
corn fodder, lie says he would not
under any circumstances plant thicker
than be did last year, and that doub.
ling the hills one way in the row, he
thinks is about right TO get the best
fodder and the most value from the
area planted. About a dozen Of his
cows were sold for beef in the course
Of the Winter, and their places filled
by purchases. All bis cows he thinks
are fat enough TO make good beef