Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-05-24
GROWING FODDER CROPS.
Concentration and Compression shou'" "e
tho Rules of Action.

Tho introduction and successful pfao-
dee of ensilage render the cultivation
If the best fodder crops saoJeo' "
inheritance to farmers and dalryihen'
Without these it Is impossible to make
farming profitable, for they are sups'',
ntes for the now impossible pfactice Vi
;ummer pasturage. Our dry. hot sum
mars are an obstacle to permanent
pasturing, which in spite OF all Efforts
has been found impracticable. and as
forage crops can not be consumed on
The land without great waste, there Is
no alternative but to grow these crops
and cut them for feeding under sys-
lem of partial or complete soiling Tor
summer use and for ensilage for winter
feeding.
Two considerations Then present
themselves. first, the kind of crops to
be grown and the proper methods OF
,ulture. There is large variety OF
these crops suitable for cultivation IN
both the North and South. but really
two or three crops only are required
3
ton of the supply for the whole year
Ia some cases, however, circumstances
make place for some other crop as
special convenience, and it may be de-
,irable therefore to mention these as
,uitable for filling vacancies which
may occur in practice. Having gone
through the whole routine for feeding
dairy cows for many years, we shall
mention only those crops which we have
used in our practice and have found con-
yenient and useful. The list comprises
winter rye sown early in the fall for
use in April and May; clover to follow
the rye; early varieties OF sweet
corn to follow clover, late varieties OF
sweet corn or common field corn to
come next; mixed oats and peas as
change and variety with the corn. mil
let to come later, and then corn for the
rest of the season and for winter feed
ing as ensilaga or as cured fodder; but
in the latter case a crop of sugar beets
or mangels will be necessary to feed
with the dry fodder and the clover hay.
which is also needed to some extent
even when ensilage is supplied. All
through the system a reasonable change
Of fodder is required to keep up the APP
petite of the cattle and secure full
consumption of the most nutritious
food, as we'll as to avoid any risk OF in
sufficient supply by reason OF failure OF
crops through dry weather. In all
cases it is desirable to have supply
on hand of dry fodder, as we'll as en-
silage which may be available to carry
over the stock through any possible
emergency. Under the present condi-
tons of all agricultural industry high
pressure system must be maintained,
and the resources of the farm must be
taxed to the extreme of possibility to
make the business as profitable as it
should be. The aim of the dairyman
should a ways be to have one more
COW and to get little more feed than
will supply this addition, and so on, to
: keep pressing on the springs continu-
ally, and the same principle should con-
troll the farmer and stock feeder.
The same principle should be applied
to the cultivation of these crops. Nature
loves most the most ardent wooer. She
is most liberal to her understanding
master. "To him that hath shall be
given is the principle upon which she
rewards the labors of the cultivator Of
the soil. Large crops lead to still
larges ones, and so the soil should be
forced to the utmost on the highpres
sure system referred to. No one ye
knows the full capacity of the soil, ant
it is well that no one who tills the sol
should ever think the largest recorded
crop can not be over-matched by sue
" cessful efforts. We would advise thel
every farmer to make practice of cur
failing his cultivated area and concen
trating material and labor as long as h,
can make the less area afford him
larger yield. We have followed thi
; system for years with the result of get
ting more fodder and grain from
acres than had previously beef
grown on ~ ana IN geJUlng more pro
, uuSO per SQUARE FOu bUd1 mac
been procured before from 10. This il
the central point of the system of prac
tice around which every effort shoult
rcirculate and gradually lessen the cir
cult Concentration and compression
should be the rule of action when on
cultivates feeding crops and use
the silo. And first, in regard t.
: the second consideration, till
age is to be considered. The sol
should be made like a garden. Whel
neighbors saw the writer GOVERN,
a field with manure and turning i
under, picking up the surface stone
and burying them or covering them il
the burrows, narrowing repeatedly un
til the soil was perfectly fine and mel
low, they said, That field was bette
worked than any garden" But whe
the little four-acre field turned off II
bushels of rye, and the next year NOR
than IL full loads of timothy and Glove
hay and full pasture for II yearlin
helfers until late in the winter. tn
profit of garden culture for field crop
became evident, and this should be tn
way with all fodder crops.
r With regard to corn for this use
Is generally-we think universally
conceded that a full crop of ears wit
as thick planting no nav h., ,>,;l,i