The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-06-23

WIN M0y WCA 0CuV 4u0AVA OAOAo . VAv
blessing on the day in which
he courted Joicey Sweet.-Cevelasd
Herald.
Profitable Fodder Crops.
No fodder plant is the equal Of
grass, because none is adapted to so
great variety of soils and climates
and is relished by SO many kinds OF
animals. Few plants are as hardy as
grass, as is shown by its ability to with
stand extremes of temperature, drouths
and floods. No plant has SO large a
number of species and varieties, though
they all have been produced by natural
processes. No plant is the equal of
grass for food in all stages of its
growth. and none will bear continued
clipping without great injury. Some
kinds Of plants furnish excellent food
for stock when they are quite young,
others when they are half grown, and
still others when they are mature.
Many varieties of grass. however. seem
to be always in their prime. They are
tender, sweet and nutritious from the
time they commence to spring out of the
ground in the spring till they are COW
cred with the snow on the approach OF
winter. Some appear to thrive better
by being cut or fed off every few days
during their long period of growth.
Orchard and blue grass are well-known
examples of this class of grasses. The
oftener they are shortened the more
they seem to renew their efforts to re-
place what has been lost. Many plants
perish when cut off near the ground in
any period of their growth. Grass. I'M
like most other fodder plants, contains
all that is necessary to produce flesh,
fat. hair, horns, bones and milk. Grass
is to grazing animals what wheat is to
man-the material from which every
portion of the body may be built up.
1t is also easier to harvest, cure and
preserve than any other forage crop.
1t can also be preserved longer without
deterioration than most fodder plants.
In many places it will dry on the
ground where it grew and retain most
of its qualities.
In places where land is cheap and
where comparatively small amount of
stock is kept, it is often safe to rely on
grass alone for the support of all domes-
tica.ed animals during the entire year.
AS land becomes expensive, however,
and the amount of stock large, a neces.
sity arises for raising other kinds Of
fodder plants. In many parts of the
country five acres of land in grass are
required to keep one cow the entire
season. Of course the amount of labor
required to raise this grass and to har-
vest, cure and store the quantity need.
ed to keep a COW over the winter is
comparatively small. Still, when we
estimate the value of the land required
to support the animal during the sea-
son the expense appears large. When
farming land is worth $50 or more per
acre, the cost of keeping COW is con-
siderable if five acres of land are de-
voted to her support. The owner Of
costly land will find it economical to
raise other crops than grass for the
support of live stock. Their produc-
ton will require more labor, but the
yield will be much greater, and while
their value for feeding purposes may
not be as great they will form an ex-
cellent and cheap substitute for the
best kinds Of grass. BY raising crops
more productive than grass large
amount of manure can be made, and by
the use of it the growth of grass can be
greatly increased on the land devoted
to it. An additional reason is found
for cultivating other fodder crops in the
circumstance that some seasons are I'm
favorable for the production of grass,
being very dry during a considerable
portion of the time. In other years an
unfavorable winter destroys much OF the
grass.
In most parts of the country corn will
produce larger amount of fodder to
the acre than any plant that can be
cultivated. 1t is not as valuable &C
cording to its weight as grass, and it il
more difficult to cut, cure and preserve.
A smaller amount of it will be eaten by
| stock of all kinds, and it is not as well
adapted to supply all the wants of any
class of animals as grass is. The stalks
will generally be rejected unless they
are cut up when full of sap and very
carefully cured and stored. Animals
that feed on the dried leaves of corn
for long period will often be afflicted
with sore mouths. Quite young animal.
will not eat the best portion of corr
fodder as readily as they will grass and
hay. More hand work is required to
cut, dry and store corn fodder thar
grass, and, consequently, many farm.
ers give their preference to a crop thai
can be harvested and handled by the
use of machines. Corn that has beer
allowed to stand till it has matured it,
ears will furnish but small amount OF
fodder'th stock will eat. 1t will con.
sist almost entirely of the leaves and
that portion of the stalk that is above the
ears. If the stalks are cut about thu
time the grains are at full size, but be
fore they ripen, just above the poin
where the ear stalk branches off. anl
are carefully cured, they will max.
very excellent food for stock of al
kinds. In the New England and som.
of the middle states they are managed
in this way, and are regarded by farm
ers as very valuable, In the state,
south of the Ohio river it is customar,
to strip the leaves from the stalks to cur,
and bind them in bundles, and t.
preserve them under cover. Thes,
leaves are the dainties of the manger
A large amount of corn fodder can b.
raised with very little trouble by SOW
ing the seed broadcast and covering il
with cultivator. 1t will be of pool
quality, however, as the lower portion.
of the plants will be shaded and viii
never acquire healthy, green color. 1
is much better to prepare the ground a!
it usually is for corn that is to matur,
its grain, and to plant the seed in drills
SO that cultivator can be run between
them. The drills should be about three
feet apart, SO that the sun can warn
the ground and strike every portion O
the plants. The grains of corn NAV b.
dropped singly, about three inche!
apart. or three may be dropped to
gether, leaving q space of foot be
tween them. The crop need not b.
planted before the middle of June, anG
the time of planting may be safely de
ferred till the 10th Of July. The growth
will then be very rapid. The cror
should be worked with harrow, cult
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