The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-09
The COrn.fodder Crop.


While not making so large a growth as
some kinds, there is less waste in feed
| ing than in the gourd varieties, because
cattle will eat large proportion OF the
stalk. Sweet corn is, however. more
difficult to cure, being liable to mold,
and for this reason some farmers prac-
tice sowing field corn when the fodder
is required for winter use. Blount's Pro-
life corn, owing to its large yield, has
proved a popular sort in some sectln"s
for fodder.
Corn for fodder is still occasionally
sown broadcast, but as a rule this prac-
tice is not advised The seed is usually
drilled in with sufficient space between
rows to insure the air and sunshine hay
ing free access to the plants. A plan
bringing good results is planting in drills
three feet apart, with about ten kernels
dropped per foot. Thicker planting
will make more fodder, but the quality
will be poor. Many of our most sue
cessful farmers are using only one to
one and half bushels of seed to an
acre. This amount grows yield sutfi-
GENTLY thin TO allow the stalks to stand
up in ordinary summer weather. When
sown excessively thick the fodder is
liable to lodge, under heavy storms,
losing afterward the beneficial effects OF
ample sunlight and ventilation, and
often rotting in consequence on the
ground.
For early feeding, the first planting of
fodder corn should be early, of course.
Much of the seed is put in, however,
during June and July with good results,
as this crop makes heavy growth on
land comparatively dry, and in dry
weather.
As soon as the plants are two or three
inches high cultivator may be run
close to the rows. The crop ought to be
cultivated two or three times, for best
results. The fodder may be fed green
when two feet high, and provides an ex-.
cellent material for tiding over the sea-
son between the perching up of grass in
July until fall rains have revived the
pastures.
The difficulty of curing and saving it
in its immature state tempts many farm
ers into permitting fodder corn to be-
come too ripe before cutting. The very
best time to harvest fodder corn is an
important consideration. If cut too
early, it has not sufficient amount Of
the albuminoids, sugar and starch, to
make it nutritive, and loses much weight
in drying because of the water in it. If
cut too late, on the other hand, the Gel
lulose, which for the most part is diges-
tible, is changed into crude fiber, which
is mostly indigestible, and the epidermis
or external layer of the stalk, shat other
wise would be soft and easily masticated,
becomes glazed and is thereby rendered
not only indigestible but injurious to the
mucous membrane of the alimentary
canal. The stage of Towering is con-
considered the best time to cut other
forage crops, and corn appears to be no
exception. The rule is to cut corn-fod-
der for drying in the early blossom of
the tassel. Prof. Pendleton, who has
given the subject consideration, thinks
the most nutrition is secured when the
crop is cut Just as the corn is beginning to
develop the tassel. An analysis made
gives to corn-stalks cut and cured in
early tassel sixty per cent. of digestible
matter, and corn-stalks cured in the
usual way forty per cent.
The general impression prevails that
fodder corn, at whatever stage, ought
to be cut previous to frost, though
there are occasional cultivators who
contend if corn be cut Immediately after
frost no great harm will be done. The
safe plan is to harvest the crop before it
has been touched by the frost.
When large areas of corn fodder are
grown the wholesale way of cutting it,
with reaping-machine, and gathering
it, like hay. with steel-tooth rake, is
practiced. Another plan is to cut the
stalks with corn-cutter in the right
hand and the cut corn under the left
arm, and without dropping it on the
ground, forming it into erect, snug
shocks, which when dry may be drawn
to the barn or stacked near the feeding
yards.
Cultivators frequently leave fodder out
in the shock. When this is done the
stacks are best made medium to small
size, with the middles kept high, so as
to turn off water. Fodder ricks are con-
veniently built just outside of the feed
ing inclosure, on a spot where water will
not stand. One plan for building .
fodder rick is as follows: First place
layer of bundles in the direction it is de-
sired to build the rick, 80 as to raise the
middle. Next lay bundles crosswise,
with the butts out, tapping them suffi-
GENTLY to keep the middle highest.
Build in sections of, say, six feet, as high
as practicable, for it will settle consid-
erably. Finish each section by placing
few sheaves lengthwise in the middle;
over these stand others slsnting so as to
form sort of roof. This rick may be
made any length required, and should
be fed out from the end the building
was left off at.
All who have had no experience in
curing fodder will do we'll to cut their
crops during settled weather; permit it
to dry q day or two before binding it in
small bundles, and expose these in turn
to drying influences before setting up in
stock or storing elsewhere Y. World.
Material fer Romance.