The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-06-23
Profitable Fodder Crops.

NO IOuueT pldub Is INC cqudl Vi
grass, because none is adapted to so
great a 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
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
thor Nfh
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 q comparatively small amount of
stock is kept, it is often safe to rely on
grass alone for the support of all domes-
ticaied animals during the entire year.
AS land becomes expensive, however,
and the amount of stock large, n 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 a 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 produe-
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 a 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 un-
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 a larger amount of fodder to
the acre than any plant that can be
cultivated. 1t is not as valuable ac-
cording to its weight as grass, and it is
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 animals
will not eat the best portion of corn
fodder as readily IS they will grass and
hay. More hand work is required to
cut, dry and store corn fodder than
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 been
allowed to stand till it has matured its
ears will furnish but n small amount of
fodder that stock will eat. 1t will con-
sist almost entirely of the leaves and
that portion of the stalk that is above the
ears. IL the stalks are cut about the
time the grains are at full size, but be-
fore they ripen, just above the point
where the ear stalk branches OF. anC
are carefully cured, they will make
very excellent food for stock of al
kinds. In the New England and some
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 customary
to strip the leaves from the stalks to cure
and bind them in bundles, and tC
preserve them under cover. These
leaves are the dainties of the manger
A large amount of corn fodder can bC
raised with very little trouble by sow
ing the seed broadcast and covering il
with cultivator. 1t will be of poor
quality, however, as the lower portions
of the plants will be shaded and will
never acquire a healthy, green color. i
is much better to prepare the ground a:
it usually is for corn that is to mature
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 may bs
dropped singly, about three inche:
apart, or three may be dropped to
gether, leaving space of foot be-
tween them. The crop need not bC
planted before the middle of June, anC
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
vator. or plow till the stalks are four oil
five feet high. Stowells evergreen
sweet corn is an excellent variety tC
plant, but any quick-grow;ng variety
especially one that is inclined to throw
out suckers, will answer the purpose
very well. The crop should be cut aft
er the ears have formed but before tn,
grains are filled. Some of it can be fec
out in the fall to milch cows and hogs
While in the green state stock will ca
every portion of it. The best way Il
preserve it for use in winter is to con
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