Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-01
FODDER CROPS.

Now that the spr,ng is open aud The
farmers are getting ready for crops
they should net overlook the matter
of growing those weli-known substi.
tutcs for hay that mature quickly and
Weld well, such as oats, fodder corn
millet aud even peas. In mentioning
oats it is not Intended to suggest the
sowing of the seed for the purpose OF
securing yield of grain, but to cut
the crop when il is only IN the milky
state, or just previous u ripening. OF
course, some farmers will object 10
what they regard rs a method thst en-
taiis the loss of the grain: but ON fer.
tile farms there will generally be a
fair crop of hay, while on the light soils
The farmer restorts to such substitutes
as will give the best results. Oats, if
cut Just before the time Of ripening.
yield crop of straw rich in nutritious
matter, tender, keeping greer, and
which will be relished by the cattle
and horses. The mode offeeding il is
TO take the bundles of oats and pass
them through a cutter, chopping straw
and heads together, the whole being q
mass of immature grain and straw. A
small quantity of ground grain is
added to the cut oats and fed TO the
stock. The advantage of thus harvest
ing and preparing oat. is that the
hole of the straw can be utilized,
while the time required for growth is
shortened. Even on rich, heavy land
this mode of harvesting ia n good one
where difficulty through the crop
lodging is annually encountered.
Corn is another excellent fodder
crop, but the best fodder is that con-
sisting of small, tender stalks, which
are usually juicy and succulent. In
order to add TO 10 the quality, the tod
der should be sown ihickly in rows
and cut while quite green. Some pre-
fer TO cut corn fodder when the corn
is in tas lei, and others a, the time the
young corn begins TO fill out, when it
is cured, stored and fed, after being
cut in small lengths. Ii is suggested,
however, that corn be cut when about
three feet high and tied in bundles.
The advantage OF this method is that
two crops may be grown the same
SEASON.. and il properly cured and
stored il does rot crnnbie so readily.
Ii is al excellent clean fo0d for h rises,
aud NAV he fed in the bundle or in the
manner m -,iioned fur ost-.
Peas answer best early in the sea-
son. aud are suitable for cattle aud
sheep, They are usually sown with
oats, and fed directly from the field to
ihe stock in the yar,'s, under the soil
lug method. Such u crop msS be fed
and got out of the way for u l.'e corn
fodder crop or Err turnips In at
tempting TO grow two crops "n the
same location, however, the land must
be manfred heavily, or it vii be in
jured, though The exhaustion viii not
be so great as when such crops are al
lowed 10 manure and produce seeds. |
Among other crops that may be !
are mil.et and Hungarian
grass. which, though properly classed
as hay crops, are also fodder crops. |
hey mature very quickly, and may |
be sown in sumner. Sorghum, now |
coming into use, is also an excellent |
fodder crop. the seeds being small and
plants easily crowded and grown in a
short interval There are several rea-
sons for growing fodder crops. They |
fill a waui III some sections. can be /
grown in short time, aud are de-
Tense against AZ insufficient hay crop.
Such erop., howeye should be cut
II the proper time AMI should
not he allow ed 10 remain on the
field dsy longer than lie necessary.
In the case Of oats, the grain must not
become bard nor the straw turn yell
low. The green condition of the
straw is important, and in order to
secure il in he best condition the field
shou id be examined daily. II threat
ened with drouth, cut al all events,
md take on the crop before IL il in-
ured. Millet and Hungarian grass Is
,flen allowed to form the seed-heads
This should be guarded against, as the
nay from these grasses is very palata-
bic if cut when the first sign Of head
ng appears, but is not so readily &C
,epted by stock if cut later. The
lime of harvesting and preparation of
he food for the stock are the most
points to be observed.