The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-04-17
soWED CORN.
1t Can BE Saved for Winter Use by Piae-
ing 1t In the Silo.

It Can BE Saved for Winter Use by Piae'
ing 1t In the silo.
In the whole catalogue of forage
plants there is not one that possesses
SO many good qualities as Indian corn
In all countries from the equator to the
temperate regions 1t a be grown
with profit. 1t succeeds on all founda-
tons, producing abundant crops on
the most sandy soil or stiffest clays.
and its management is simple and well
understood. Nhen properly cured,
its feeding value is equal to the best
hay. 1t is an excellent food for milch
cows, not only increasing the quantity
but the quality Of the milk. 1t will re-
pay heavy manuring, and endure the
effects Of it better than most plants.
and the quantity Of eorn fodder that
can be grown on a single acre, when
thoroughly cultivated and MANFRED, is
surprising.
Corn is much grown in this section
for soiling stock during the later
months. of summer when the flush Of
feed is over. But possessing all these
good qualities as a forage plant, the
farmer is continually looking for other
ways in which he can use it. If he can
grow it for winter use, it will be OF
material advantage to him. Thereby
he can increase the amount of fodder
put in store for winter, winter more
animals, make more manure, increase
the productiveness Of his soil, and en-
nance the profits Of business in gem
eral. Thus many grow sowed corn,
and attempt to cure it for winter use.
Some seasons frosts come early and
kill it, when it a be saved from
damage by curing for winter use.
But all attempts at curing a large
~succulent corn stalk, containing eighty
one per cent. of water, at a season of
the year when rains are frequent, dews
are heavy, days are short and weather
cold, are sheer nonsense. 1t would
answer quite well with any other plant,
or ripe corn, and containing not half
as much water, or during the heat Of
summer. but it is impracticahle under
these conditions.
Sad experience has proved this. Last
year a deadly frost passed over our
sowed corn, and farmers cut it up to
cure it. About the last of OctoberI
rode far through the section; the spec
tacle was appalling; most of the corn
was yet in the field, and black and
mouldy. 1t is true that we OCCASION
ally have II dry season, when this would
be much modified, but such would be
the exception. The best part Of the
corn treated in this way is gone. The
wind, rain and sun have either washed
out its sugar and soluble juices, n
verified them into indigestible woody
fiber; its palatableness has been de-
stroyed, and its beautiful green color
mas disappeared.
But there is a way in which the
farmer can take advantage of these ex-
cellent properties of corr as a forage
plant by keeping it for winter use, and
that is by preserving it in the silo. In
this way it will not be wasted, but its
juices will all be preserved, and instead
of its sugar being rendered indigestible,
the indigestible starch will be converted
into sugar.
Whatever has been said against the
silo, it is most certainly coming into fa-
vor. The more it is used, the more
easily it is found that it can be man
aged and cheaply constructed. Any
wooden building reasonably strong and
tight, with the bottom well drained,
answer the purpose. While do not
claim that the crop Of common grass
should be stored in the silo, but made
into hay, l do claim that those plants
which can not be easily cured exposed
to the weather should be preserved in
it, giving us ensilage not as the sole
food of stock, but only to be fed in con-
nection with hay, which is its proper
place and Office. Cor. Country Gentle
man.
H#."H