The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-09-25
Don't Pull Your Corn.

To the Editor ofthc Ne,os and Courier:
AS the time is approaching when
the farmers will have to begin saving
their corn-fodder it may be useful to
call their attention to the value of the
part they usually leave in the field.
Very carefully conducted expert
ments made in different States show
that the often despised stalks contain
more nutriment than the leaves and
ears. The corn stubble and husks
contain sixty per cent. Of the total di-
gestible matter produced by the plant,
while leaves, the only part generally
saved in the South, contain only elev-
en- per cent. Of the total digestible
matter.
There is more digestible matter con-
tained in the corn-fodder from one
acre than in corn ears from one acre.
The corn-fodder, or stover-that is the
entire plant except the ear-from one
acre yields as much digestible matter
as two tons of timothy hay. There is
enough digestible matter produced by
the corn-fodder grown in the Southern
States to winter all the live stock ex-
listing in them, if it were properly pre-.
served. When we'll preserved and
properly prepared this fodder will
maintain dry COWS and idle mules or
horses without other food. If cotv, I
seed meal and bran are fed with the
corn-fodder the full cost Of the meal
or bran will be recovered in the ma
nure, and in the case of milch COWS a
full flow of rich milk will be kept up /;
horses and mules can be kept at steady
work and maintain their weight and
strength, and steers easily and profit
ably fattened for the butcher.
Owing to the very short crop of hay
this year this question Of saving for
age is a most important one. Hay is
high and is going to be much higher
before the winter is over, and even if
our farmers do not have to buy any
they must remember that what hay
they use costs them just what it could
be sold for, and they could sell all
they make if they would get it baled
and sent into the city.
The cornstalks should be cut at the
same time the pulling" is ordinarily y
done. The best way to cut the stalks
is to use short handled hoe Gan old
one having the handle cut off so as to
leave it about two feet long,, gather
the stalks under the left arm and cut
them off with one blow of the hoe as
near the ground as possible. Put all
the stalks from, say twenty-eight hills
(four rows and seven hills in each
row., in stack, or stock, as it is call
ed. Be careful to spread the butts
we'll out for two reasons-one, to make
sure of allowing the air to circulate
through the stack, the other to give it
agood baseand prevent its blowing over.
Tie the tops together very strong ly
with stout cord to keep the rain
from running into the centre of the
stock. The corn (cars) will ripen in
the stock just as well as if allowed tc
stand on the stalk in the ield.
When the corn is dry enough to 60
in the crib it should be husked and
the stalks tied into bundles of size
convenient for handling, and either
hauled to the barn It once, and this is
the better way, or they may be made
into stocks again or large stack may
be built. If this last is done plat
form of poles should be built where
the stack is to stand, raised so as tt
allow plenty of air to circulate under
meath, good pole being set in th'
ground as for hay. The stack is made
by laying the bundles with butts OF
| the outside Of the stack. Lay enough
extra bundles near the pole in th'