Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-05-16
SOME FARM TOPICS.
INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR
TILLEIsS OF THE SOIL.
Fodder Corn in summcr-Don'ts for
the MISUNDERSTANDING in the
SprinE-Points ON TiIlnge-A Good
Wore. for the Owl.

After the corn crop is planted, an
acre or two of fodder corn should be
drilled in for summer feeding. How
ever abundant the pasture may be in
early summer, by the latter part of
July the heat of the sun and the dry
ness of the atmosphere causes the
grass roots to stop growing, and the
result is scarcity of green feed.
The only way to avoid this state of
affairs is to prepare now an acre of
fodder for every eight head of grown
Stock to he fed. This amount of green
feed will give, i'll connection with
what can he gotten from the pasture,
enough to carry the stock through
the summer drouth.
The strength of corn fodder occurs
when the stalk is full of sugar, and
this takes place when the ear is in
silk. Corn planted in early May will
be in this condition by the latter part
OF July. ut the time the fodder is
needed. 1t is best to make two plant
ingS. the first from the LIST to the 10th
OF the month. and the second from
the 18th to the Goth of May. one acre
of ground should he we'll plowed. fine
ly narrowed and run Off in rows :; feet
apart, with phosphate scattered along
the drill mt the rate of one large hand
full to every 3 feet of row. This will
require GOO pounds to the acre. and
the corn scattered on top of the phos-
plate at the rate of six to eight
grains to the running foot will take
from four to six pecks of seed corn.
This acre. il given careful cultivation
that is. three workings with the cul-
tivator-will yield from ten to twelve
tons of green fodder to the acre. This
will allow a large armful of fodder to
be given eight cows twice Il day for
six weeks.
The feeding should commence when
the fodder is in taSsel or the ear is
in silk. but the fodder fire. of rain or
dew. and feed when Il little wiltcd.
Sweet corn makes the sweetest
stalk, but is not as vigorous; neither
does it produce as heavy Il yield. AZ
ter repeated trials. the writer has
come to the conclusion that the COM
mon yellow corn is the corn tn plant
for fodder. In some sections White
corn is considered the best. Either
kind will give satisfaction. Ground
for this crop should be dry. Have the
ground deeply plowed and well liar
rowed at least twice: three times
would be better. Roll often the last
harrowing-mark it out; then SOW the
phosphate and corn, and cover with
the cultivator. renewing the middle
tooth. Corn should never he sown
broadcast. as it needs cultivation. sun
shine and air to produce crop fun
of sugar. This it can not get when it
is sown broadcast.
1t is an excellent crop to kill weeds
with. The cultivation of the corn and
the shading of the ground by the
growing crop will effectually kill out
these weeds II the ground has been
well plowcd and narrowed before put
ting it in. Corn fodder is usually fed
to milk COWS. but it is Il NEST excellent
feed for sows with young pigs, and
for growing shoats. They are very
fond of it. and will eat stalk and
blade. Plenty of fodder and thick
mill feed slop will make sweet,
healthy pork. and at a cheap rate.
Fodder fed to horses should first be
well wilted, and should only he fed
when the horses have cooled off. and
only Il little at time. as it is certain
to produce collie if fed green, or in too
large quantities. The cultivator run
through the rows three times will be
all that is needed