The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-10
Forage-The Importance of Having
Plenty of 1t.


Was there ever a farmer who had just
cause for regret at having more forage than
he had an actual need for? We trust not.
If there is anything that a farmer is more
likely to overestimate the quantity on hand
than his stock hay, we know not what it
is. He almost invariably thinks he has
good deal more than he really has, and
when there is any waste in the early part of
the winter he usually finds the bottom of
his NOW several months before another crop
can be resorted to.
One had much better have five tons over
what he needs than to fall short one ton
before a new crop can be drawn on.
The number Of mules and horses that have
been killed by collie in the southern states in
the past twenty-five years-and ali the re-
suit of being deprived of proper long
forage in the spring-would stock a good
size country in good work stock for ten
years.
1t would seem that any farmer after a
year or Two experience with q lack of
forage would make a firm decision not to be
caught that way again, if it were at all
possible to prevent it. A horse or mule
during the fall and winter, when the work
was comparatively light, is bound to suffer
if deprived of it in the spring and summer
when the work is hardest. If the hay gives
out then, and the farmer attempts, as he
frequently does. to get along with merely
feeding corn to his work stock he is more
than likely to have a sick horse or mule be-
fore many weeks elapse.
If the animal escapes a serious attack of
collie lamphas, or disordered kidneys, one
or the other, will exhibit itself, and a
prompt decline in flesh and strength will
soon follow.
There is such thing as allowing mule
or horse to eat more hay and fodder than is
really good for him, but the trouble usually
with our stock is they get too little of it.
Considering that this milder form of food
is SO indispensable to the we'll being of work
animals, and that it eau be secured in
abundance so readily, there is really no ex-
cuse for the almost wholesale violation of
the most important rule of successful farm
. ing, which says "feed your work stock
properly and they will serve you WELL"
}
come impressed with the value of the per-
ennial grasses for affording the surest and
cheapest supplies of hay, his dependence
must be made on these annual plants that
are best suited to our soil and climate-such
as Indian corn, field peas, the different va
rieties Of sorghum, oats, rye, and last, but
not the least by good deal, the old stand
by, the self-sown crab grass. Some farm
ers have the advantage of good natural
meadows, composed either of bermuda or
one or the other of the swamp grasses, and
a cutting from these to supplement- the
specially planted crop ought to yield a good
supply of forage
The majority of those who have made
numerous experiments with the various
fodder plants have found that few or no
plants are superior to corn as a sure and
cheap supply of long forage on our southern
farms. Sown and cultivated properly, cut
and cured at the proper time, it constitutes
the most available plant for the purpose
that we have. 1t must be sown thick
enough to prevent the stalks from getting
to large and coarse; and it must be cut and
cured soon after the tassels form to give the
most satisfaction. If sown too thinly and
allowed to stand too long after blooming it
makes coarse, hard feed that will be
wasted by stock. With the rows three feet
apart three to three and half bushels of
seed should be used and sown along very
regularly in well prepared rows, and the
cultivation should be prompt, for very little
cultivation will be needed if given in the
early stage of growth.
Do not fail to allot enough land to the
forage crop to insure a full supply for your
stock, whether it be fodder corn, pea hay,
sorghum forage, OATS rye or crab grass, or
fair proportion of all. The Amber sorg-
hum cut at the proper time makes good
hay.