American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-10-08
COrn.FOdder.

Corn IS not only our largest and mos,
important grain crop. but it is our larg
est fodder crop. The agricultural re.
port for 1873, which is the latest to
which wo have present access, but
which will serve for comparison, gives
the area under hay and corn in that
year as 26, 200, 900 acres of hay and 81 =
900, 900 acres of corn. 1t is a moderate
| estimate that an acre of corn fodder is
| thrice as heavy as an acre of hay, and il
the average of hay is one and onc-hali
tons per acre, that of cOrn-fodder can
very easily be three tons; 90 that the
corn crop yields 80, 0)O, O0) tons yearly
of the best of fodder, in every way
equal to hay-if it is only properly
cured.
But. as we have said, if it is only
properly cured. The chief value of the
fodder depends upon this. Otherwise
its nutritivc value is considerably re-
duced.
When corn has been cut in good sea-
son, before it has been frozen and when
the grain is glazed and hard. some por-
ton of the nutritive constituents GER
tainly goes into the corn, but there can
| be very little of it, because the grain
| does not increase in size, but, in fact,
shrinks as it becomes hard and solid.
| Nevertheless, we must believe that
some portion of the starch and sugar OF
the corn is derived from the stalk at
this stage of its growth. The most
considerable change, however, in the
stalk consists in the conversion of its
sugar and starch into woody fiber, dur
ing the process of ripening. This is
| clearly evident because the dis
appearance of these substances
can be noticed as conspicuously
in corn stalks from which the
ears have been pulled for table use as
in those upon which the ears have been
left to ripen. And the loss which oc-
ours from this change is very consider
able. We have no special informal ion
derived from actual analysis of corn
stalks in the two stages referred to, but
we know very well from experience in
feeding stalks to dairy cows that there
is very great difference in value in
favor of the stalks cut before they have
ripened and died. But the time of
cutting the crop is not the only matter
for consideration. The manner of cur
ing and storing is equally important.
and it is in this that loss and damage
often occur through careless handling.
The fodder requires to be perfectly
well dried and in the shade. Sunlight
has remarkable chemical effect upon
drying vegetable substances. Drug
gists who use herbs for extracts dry
them in the shade to preserve all the
juices without loss, and if we would
preserve the corn fodder in its best
condition, we must put it up in such q
manner as to shade it as much as posi-
bic from the sun, and yet furnish air
to circulate among the stalks. This
may be done by putting up the fodder
in large stacks and binding these at the
top to protect them from rain and keep
the interior in the shade. The larger
the stack the less the fodder is exposed
We have had sweet corn fodder put I'D
in this manner and left in the field un-
til required for use without any injury
or loss whatever. the stalks aud leaves
coming out fresh-looking and green as
bind the fodder in convenient sheaves
or bundles with rye straw or other
bands, and set them in large shocks,
binding the tops securely.
Fodder corn, which is corn grown
especially for fodder and not for grain.
is becoming a very frequent crop. The
late excitement in regard to ensilage
has drawn much attention to this crop,
which is doubtless the most valuable
one that can be grown for feeding pur-
poses. A well-grOwn crop can easily
make forty tons green. or ten tons
cured. fodder per acre, and larger Yields
have been reported. But the broad
cast method of growing this crop has
been found a mistake, producing thin.
weak. watery stalks of very little value.
When planted closely in rows and Gull
tivated, as if for grain, the stalks be-
come perfectly developed and produce
a considerable quantity of ears and
many small nubbins. To dry these re-
quirss great care, and the management
OF fodder corn is therefore more partic-
ular than that of corn-foddcr. For the
safe preservation of it. the putting up
and keeping it in stacks or large shocks
out OF doors is necessary, and when
sweet corn is grown the stacks should
be comparatively small to prevent
molding and souring Of the fod-
for ventilating large fodder stacks
is to use number of frames
made of three posts one and a half
inches square and four feet long. and
having three cross-bars on each of the
three sides. making the frame three
inches narrower at the top than at the
bottom. One frame is slipped on the
top of another. and continuous open
tube or chimney is thus made and put
being ranged around it. The stack
being raised from the ground upon
frame of rails or logs. there will be an
ample circulation Of air through tie
stack to remove moisture and heat,
which would produce fermentation and
mildew.
The culture of cern for fodder will |
surely be greatly increased in the |
future. The two successive dry years |
have ruined the meadows, and there |
have been few new seedlings which |
have escaped destruction. A substitute |
for hay will be required for several
years until the meadows have been re-
seeded and the pastures restored.
There is no other crop that can be SO |
well substituted as fodder corn, and
now that farmers have found tho right
method to grow it and have generally
the broadcast method of
planting for the drill plan with regular
there should be great in
crease in its production. Henry Stev-
art, in NJ y. Times.