St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-12-16
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
CORN FODDER.


SOhN fOOO6Us
Il. Care and valus IN the Economy Of ~
Farm.
The Farm and Fireside does . good
work in calling attention to the waste
of an immense amount of forage in
this country every year. and it truly
rays that good, bright corn fodder il
excellent food for cattle and horses
J have fed very little hay for many
years, preferrin9 the corn fodder or
the score both of economy and salts
factory results. The worlds crop OF
hay is short this year. and although
fear that extensive shipments to Eu-
yore will not be practicable, yet prices
n this country should rule fairly good,
and there are tens of thousands OF
farmers, dare say, who will continue
to feed their hay and let the fodder 60
to waste, when they could utilize the
fodder and sell the hay, thereby net
ting nearly the entire selling price Of
the latter.
l find that ten acres of good corn
will produce sufficient slower to supply
ten horses and mich cows with all the
coarse fodder needed from the first of
November to the first of May, even
when it is fed long, and consequently
at least one third of il is wasted. or
rather is converted into manure with
out being eaten by stock. When one
makes use of some wheat straw. per-
hitting the horses to eat the chaff and
tenderest part of the straw that is used
for bedding, one acre of corn fodder
will supply greater amount of forage
than one animal will consume. The
character of the food is superior to that
of ordinary timothy or clover hay, be-
ing safer for horses, as it is free from
dust and is laxative as well as nutri-
tiouS.
have heard extensive corn growers
ridicule the advice of some farm writer's
that slower should be housed in the
winter-time, pointing at the time to
their hundreds of acres of fodder that
would indeed require Immense storage
room. But can not see why anyone,
no matter how extensive a corn-pro-
ducer he may be, should not be able to
care for all the forage his stock may
need, even if scores Of other acres of
fodder are left sanding in the field,
and what ! now write is based upon
my own experience on a farm that
grows only about as many acres of corn
as there are heads of horses, colts. cows
and other cattle on the farm, and those
who usually have greater number
of acres of corn than head of stock are
comparatively few.
In order to have good slower one must
care for it, and not do as the majority
of those do who underrate its possibili-
ties--sadly neglect it. The best fodder
is gotten by pretty early cutting of
corn, vet would not advise going to
any exteeme. as this will cause loss in
weight of the grain. There is a right
time to cut corn, just as there is right
time to cut wheat. and for the sake of
the fodder the work should not be de-
layed beyond this. A majority of the
ears should have brown husks and be
about ripened, but the corn should not
stand until all the leaves are dead and
bleached. Just as soon as
the corn is dry enough 70 crib it should
be husked oat of the shocks and the
fodder tied in bundles. Tarred Irvine
is the best material for the purpose.
and the band should be placed little
nearer the butt than the tips of the
bundle.
If the weather be dry, the fodder may
be left on the ground until it is ready
for drawing to the NOW or stack, but it
is always safer to have three shocks
put into one in the field, drawing the
tips of the bundles together with COM
mon taaHs pr corn stalks, and let the
fodder S1fe thoroughly, as the sap in the
sespk is apt to cause heating and mold
iq khe bottosA2of. the NOW unless the
s4ting is well done. A few days of
i&hdy weather make it ready for draw
MT in and then any further exposure
IS haNRt9r~eEyen some of those who
sed1 Id $3Y4e1 Corn fodder leave it in
The ned. dfd14hg it in as needed; but
estidlatesshat winter rains cause a
oss of fully one-half of its value.
When mOw-room twas insufficient
Tor all the fodder I have drawn
IN all that would be needed from
Christmas until spring, and then drawn
from the field for use in November and
December, but even this degree of |
neglect can recommend no more than
hat of having hay in the cock for |
weeks after in should be in the stack.
II the fodder has been tightly bound |
nto bundles of the proper size, it can
,e handled with forks easily. Mine is |
always moved away like wheat, and in |
he winter these bundles are thrown |
lown upon the feeding-foor with more |
,ase than an equal amount of hay. The |
are so arranged that |
! bundle can lie lengthwise in the bot |
ON of each one. the bundle containing
'nough for two horses. As the fodder |
S bright and dry, the stalks are
picked so closely that nothing
nut the butts remain. As the
hangers are double length this
efuse is easily gathered up in the
lands or arms and removed to a basin
ust outside the door leading from the
II no refuse is allowed
o accumulate in the managers, this
york is not unpleasant in any way, and
occupies only q few minutes. In the
'asin the stalks are tramped and lev
led by stock in winter afternoons. and
ogether with the straw that is mixed
With them. form a rotten mass by mid
ready for the top-dressing of
vhea. land.
The advantages of fodder over orli-
AIRY hay I find to be many. ~ It is q
y-product, costing only the cutting
nd hauling to the barn. The grain is
expected to pay for raising the crop,
nd the fodder is SO much extra gain.
rhile hay is main product, requiring