The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-05-12
GOOD FODDER CROPS.
why Farmers should Make All the Prod
net they Can From Their Land.

why Farmers should Make All the Prod
net they Can From Their Land.
No farmer can manage his farm with
full profit and depend wholly upon
pasture except one whose farm costs
but triae, and five or six acres can be
devoted to the feeding of one COW.
And even then tho farmer Is not getting
rs much income from the land as he
might. It is common mistake to sup.
pose that cheap land may be used
wastefully on the principle Of the old
adage. EASY come, easy go" If a
farm were given to man without cost,
that would be no excuse for the work
ing of 1t in a wasteful manner. And
believing that the soil is heritage to
mankind to be used by the owner for
the best interests of the race, and that
the public has some interest in its good
uses and productive working. inasmuch
as the food and clothing of mankind
are produced from the soil, It follows
that u farmer is morally bound to make
the best use of his land in every possi-
bic way. Self-intcrest induces him to
do this, but sometimes men are mis-
taken in their ideas of what is best for
them, and it is often necessary that
an exchange of views be made
to reach the exact truth. Then, under
all circumstances, we think farmer IS
bound by self-interest and by his duty
to his fellow-men ("for no man liveth
to himself alone'') to make Ill the prod
uct he possibly can from his land, and
he can not do this by pasturing; he
must aid this wastoful kind of feeding
by growing fodder crops for his horses,
cows, sheep and swine. One acre OF
the best fodder will support two cows
for six months, while ten acres of or
dinary pasture will do no more. Hence
the profit of this valuable resource for
summer feeding, especially in the dairy.
Again, as rule the average pasture is
worn-out meadow, used as u last re-
source, not so much for the feeding OF
tho stock, but that it may be manured
by the droppings and improved for
plowing under for grain crop. And
upon this account some provision for
the better feeding of the stock is all the
more needed. Incidentally we might
say that this sort of pasture is a de-
lusion. a loss of opportunity. and a
waste of material, but we shall have
more to say about this hereafter.
There are many kinds of fodder crops,
all good, but some better, and few
that are best. The best only should be
grown. A variety is wanted. some
early, for use in advance of the pas.
ture, and some late to succeed it, for
pastures are not in their best condition
until late in May, when there is full
bite, and the growth is more active.
and it is soon exhausted when tho hot
dry days of July come. Consequently
fodder is required in May. and after
June or carly in July until the
pastures recover their full growth.
Rye is tho first fodder crop which
will come into use in the spring; usual
ly this may be mown in April. when
the heads first appear, but always
three or four weeks before the grass is
fit for pasturing. After this comes
clover. Every farmer should have
few acres of rye sovn early in the fall
and well manured for this carly feed.
ing, and the land then turned for corn.
Nothing is lost but much is made by
this. The land is kept at work and
productive, and it is greatly improved
for the following crop. This is true
economy, to get something out of moth
ing. A few acres of clover should also
be grown for cutting early. and left for
later pasturing. 1t may be then most
usefully turned under for wheat and
rye in the fall. The land will be i'm.
proved. and what would otherwise be
practically unproductive will be turned
to good use. There is no danger Of
land being worn out by such culture as
this. Land is made and intended to
be used, and the more it is fed and
worked and turned to profit-like a
well-fed cow-the more it will yield
and the richer it becomes. The atmos.
phere yields its carbon and nitrogen to
it, and the stored-up mineral wealth is
developed and brought into usc.
Corn is the grand fodder crop. No
Other plant is so easily grown, so pro-
ductive. or more useful for summer
feeding. Its value, however, depends
upon the manner of growing it. 1t is
n delusion and q snare when it is sown
broadcast, yielding half crop of sickly,
watery, white. and tasteless immature
herbage. This plant is child of the
sun and the breeze. Sunlight and air
it must have to develop its abundant
sweetness and nutriment. For fodder
it should be grown with all the care
given to crop grown for grain. We
have had the best results by planting
the early sweet kinds. of which Narra-
gansett is our first choice. being pro-
life as well as early, and in succession
the larger Stowell's evergreen. The
former may be grown in rows 2} feet
apart, with three or four stalks in
punches Is inches apart in the rows.
The latter needs to be 8 feet apart and
IS inches in the rows. In 60 DAYS
Narragansett corn will be in car fit for
cooking. and is then the very best fodder
for use, being exceedingly palatablc and
nutritious. A second crop may be
planted US the first is cut and the
ground cleared in time for fall rye for
spring use.
Orchard grass and pea vine clover
(Irifnkinnl DrakenSe Iereni1el or narnm.