The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-12-03

Bht staiks hhd5 thef6, leapss, E,yask
cofii is SUPPOSED to kiVe 'sWeetef Stake
-perhaps so, PERHAPS eot-en point, on
which facts are needed. L kiiow Of no
positive proof ...
AT any rate, / know that common
corn, sown early, at the rate of two
and half to three bushels per acre,
and well cultivBted,i will give as good
fodder rs [ want. When cut early,
say the MIDDLE of August, it can be
made, with proper care, into genuine
maize hay," of excellent quality. Is
Fourth-By letting the crop grow
later, heavier growth can be some
times be attained, but thc quality is
not always SO good. At any rate, [
wou u'd cut the first moment tho cr.D
attained maturity, or showed in cy-
ceSslveiy dry weather, any signs of
drying ur. .. -s... :
Flith-l have had a great crop, that
proved quite satisfactory, cut as late rs
the last of September, but at this
season, 1t is not an easy matter to cure
SlXth'-Wecut our corn fodder with
a seii-raKlng reaper. Keep the knives
snarp, and take only one row at a
time, especially if heavy, aud do not
make the bundles too large; and anv
good reaper will cut the crop, better
than 1t can be cut by hand.
seventh Let the fodder lie in the
punches on the ground for few hours,
or Ior day or two, TO partially cure.
Incn BIND up into small bundles.
Eighth-Set the bundles up into
small compact stacks, and cap them
with "ridcr," made by tying two
shcavcs together and placing them with
inc butts up, on tho tnpIof the shock, so
as To she'd the rain. II we'll done, this
will protect il.
Ninth-Nothing more need bc done
until late in the fall, except to set up
any shocks or bundles that are blown
down, or, more likely, be so spread
OUT at the bottom as to be exposed to
the rain.
Tenth-In these stooke, the corn
fodder, especially that which is cut
carly, will get thoroughly cured, and
one who has had no experience with
corn fodder, will be likely to think that
snch well cured "maize hav," may b9
put III = stack or bay, like bundles of
wheat Or corn stalks. But such is not
the case. and The practical way of
handling a dozen or more acres of
heavy corn fodder is, to make it into
large stocks in the field, and let them
remain there until needed for feeding
in the winter.
Three rows of the smaller stocks are
made into one row OF large stocks, or
II the crop is not very heavy, five rows
| NAV be taken, two on each side Of the
center row, where tho large stocks arc
to be made. The larger the stocks,
| provided they can be compactlv make,
| and gradually tapcring to IL point, the
better. The top should be securely
| tied with two bands. We sometimes
use tarrcd rope, but nothing is better
than willow twigs for tics.
Sec that every part of tho work is
well done. The first bundles of the
large stook should stand upright, and
two men, standing on opposite sides
OF the stock, should press The bundles
together rs tight as possible, and con-
tinue to do So as more are added.
Especially press or kick The butts of
tile bundles cOmpactly together. A
sprawing stock will be more or dam
aged by snow and ice, and the butts
will be frozen together, and it is then
not an easy matter to pitch the bun
dies III the winter. If ihc.r large
stocks arc we'll made, there need be
little loss, and no difficulty iu tlnndling
the foddcr..-AmericaN -Ag,Tculturul-
'St.