Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-07-27
SOME FARM TOPICS.
INTERESTING INFORMATION FoR
TILLERs OF THE SOIL.
Fodder Corn I'm Summer-DOn'ts for
the Horse-FertiIiAinE tn the
SpriRK-POints ON TtIlaEe-A Coed
Word 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 a 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 be fed. This amount OF green
feed will give. in 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, at the time the fodder IL
needed. Ii 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 10Th OF May, One acre
of ground should be we'll plowed fine
" narrowed and run OF In rows 5 feet
apart. with phosphate scattered along
the drill at the rate of one large hand
full TO every feet OF row. This will
require 600 pounds to the acre. and
the corn scattered on top Of the phos-
phate at the rate of six TO eight
grains to the running foot will take
from four TO six pecks Of seed corn
This acre, II 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 10
be given eight cows twice a 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 a little wilted.
Sweet corn makes the sweetest
stalk, but is not as vigorous; neither
does IL produce as heavy yield. At
ter repeated trials. the writer has
come to the conclusion that the com
mon yellow corn is the corn TO 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 har-
rowed at least twice; three times
would be better. Roll often the last
harrowing-mark II out; then sow the
phosphate and corn, and cover with
the cultlvator, renewing the middle
tooth. Corn should never be sown
broadcast, as it needs cultivation. sun
shine and air to produce a crop full
I Of sugar. This 1t can not get when II
is sown broadcast.
+ II 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 If the ground has been
well plowed and narrowed before put
ting It In Corn fodder is usually fed
to milk cows. but 1t is most excellent
/ feed for sows with young pigs, and
for growing shoats They are very
fond of 1t, and viii 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
we'll wilted and should only be fed
when the horses have cooled or, and
only little at time, as II Is certain
to produce collie II fed green or in too
large quantities. The cultivator run
through the rows three times will be
| all that is needed.