The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-08-31
Corn Fodder and FODDER Corn.

stalks of corn grown only for the stake
and leaves. 1t is evident that the two
differ in character, and consequently
require different treatment, the one
being necessarily subordinate to the
grain, while the other may be managed
Just as the farmer may think best. But
perhaps there is no other valuable crop
that is more injured and wasted in the
''saving" than either corn fodder or
fodder corn. This is partly due to the
TACT that the stalks are very succulent
and require good deal of drying and
curing. and partly to the too general
neglect and carelessness of farmers,
helped no doubt by the prevalent idea
that corn fodder is a coarse food,
''roughness, as it is often called, and
not worth the labor that needs to be
bestowed upon it to save it in good con-
dition. This idea, however, Is very
wrong one and acts very injuriously up
on the interests of the farmer who be-
lieves it, for there is no other fodder
crop that may be turned to better ac-
count, or that can be grown so cheaply
when it is well managed.
As is the case with all sorts of straw
or stems of plants, the nutritive sub
stances in these are most abundant Just
before the grain is fully ripened, and if
they are left standing later their value
for feeding is seriously impaired with
out adding anything to the value of the
grain. Also exposure to frost is seri-
Gus damage. causing rupture of the
sap cells and the fermentation of the
sap by which the starch and sugar in it
are destroyed and changed to useless
matter. 1t is, unfortunately, prevail.
ing practice to leave the corn crop to
ripen thoroughly before it is cut up,
and even to leave it standing long after
it is ripe and the stalks have been
frozen. 1t is also quite common to
gather the ears from the stalks and cut
only the tops of these to save for fod-
der, even with the smaller varieties of
which nearly the whole stalk is avail
able. In the South and West the neces-
sites of the case, the coarseness of the
stalks, the scarcity of labor to handle
the enormous crop, and the unavoid-
able, and in many cases cheaper and
more profitable. disposal of the stalks
as waste compel the farmer to abandon
the fodder, and care only for the grain,
except to use it in the best way he can
by turning the cattle into the fields to
CLEAN what they will, and then to break
down the stalks and pillow them under.
But where everything must be made to
count in meeting the competition of the
richer and cheaper lands of the West,
the farmer must use every possible
economy and save every pound of fod-
der in the best possible condition.
Therefore the corn crop must be har-
vested with as much care as the hay or
grain crops and saved in the best con-
dition, and for the sake of the fodder it
must be cut as soon as the ears are in
the right condition. This is as soon as
the grain is glazed. or, at the latest.
when the husks are turning yellow and
becoming dry. After that the grain
takes nothing from the stalks, while
these are very much damaged by
further delay in cutting. The cobs
then contain considerable sap, in which
there are starch and sugar, and the
grain will appropriate the whole of
these and leave the cob mere dry woody
matter, so that the corn should be cut
and put up in a safe manner as soon as
theSe indications are noticed, and not
eft to the risk and damage of a frost.
Corn should be cut as near to the
ground as possible. This is not so
much for the sake of the stalk that is |
aved as to avoid the troublesome stubs |
which cannot be covered in the next |
and thus remain upon the sur
ACE for years q disagreeable nuisance |
n a meadow and among the hay In |
setting up the shocks it is preferable to |
make large ones, and to take at least |
en- rows each way, by which the shocks |
will stand firmly and will not break
Town or tumble over. A large shock
viii dry quite as well, althoug h some
what more slowly, as a smaller one,
md can be more easily preserved from
lamage by storms. The shock should
,e put up so that the center is open be-
ow and air can pass freely through it,
md should be bound securely Just above
he center and at the top. 1t is very
that the top should be closely
'ound so that rain may not enter. Corn
odder so put up may remain long
ime without injury, but the huskinS
hould not be postponed any later than
when the corn is dry, because husking
'orn IN a snow-storm is neither con-
agreeable, nor healthful.
With fodder corn the case is different,
There is no grain, but the stalks only,
% be considered. These are in the best
condition when the blossom at the top
s quite dry and faded. Naturally this
would be when the grain, if there was
my, would be set, at which stage the
most nutrimentiS contained in the stems
md leaves. The stems of corn grown
or fodder and closely planted will be
hin and soft. and, if cut at the stage
mentioned. will be in the best condition
o make valuable feed. They should be
ut close to the ground for the sake of
economy as well as avoiding the in
umbrance of the stubs afterward. for
rhen the stalks are cut up for feed they
will be wholly consumed and there will
e no waste. In cutting it is well to
cave the stalk lying upon the ground
Or twenty-four hours, as this will re-
love a large portion of the moisture
nd greatly hasten the curing in the
hook. The writer's practice has been
D bind the stalks in small sheayes of !
bout twenty-five pounds, which is
Moderate armful, and leave these in
mall shocks for week or ten DAYS.
en- or a dozen sheaves will make one
these shocks. As the weather NAV
ave been dry, or wet, these sheayes
re sooner or later-and when they are
alf-dried-brought into the barn and :
rocked up in a convenient place, about !
fly or sixty sheaves in a shock, rather !
pen and loosely, but well secured at {
lie top to shed the rain. The shocks
re ranged i'm rows, and are thus left :