Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-03
THE FODDER CROP.
Advantage. OF Using Corn Harvester and
9 shreddsr-Curing shredded Fodder,

Advantages of Using Corn Harvester and
sshrsddsr-curins shredded Fodder.
II have cut corn fodder and fed 1t in
avery possible way since 1877. cutting
by hand until 1895, but have now set
tied on what | consider the least labor
md the easiest, therefore the most &C.
reputable. to employer and employed, as
follows: First, the use of corn har-
vestor; second, the use Of shredder at.
sached to good steam power" These
Arc the opening sentences of letter to
Wallaco's Farmer. Following are addi-
honal extracts of general interest con-
.erning last seasons crop:
MY harvester was bought in 1895,
md, with two teams. used alternately.
The machine placed in nice bundles for
the shocker 40 acres in II days Three
men would have done the shocking had
the weather been normal. The shredder
was started Oct 0 and run until Dec.
3, storing nicely 400 acres of the finest
food in my barns and those Of my neigh.
bors, oil Of which cured as well ms tim.
othy hay usually il. The corn in tho
cribs and no sore fingers. thus housed
175 acres for myself. The coarser part
that the stock reject is used for bedding,
which feeders have to buy in this local.
ity.
''As to tho curing, the fodder men.
toned was stored in various sized bulks,
some as largo ~ az by IS by 90 feet, and,
rs before mentioned, kept satisfactorily.
But am satisfied that If tho oat straw
was run into one part of the barn when
thrasbed and then when the shredding
Is being done mix straw and fodder to-
gether both would be improved and tho
stock benefited by having both foods all
the time. The fodder is fed in tight
managers or racks in the barns directly
from the NOW. as much as they will cat
up clean. and the managers cleaned out
before each fresh feed. The fodder is
handled with handmade wooden forks,
with boltcd, crooked handles and slaves
made from u half barrel ripped into a
inch strips, pointed and bolted to cross
bars with eight bolts. My fodder of
1894 did not keep Us well as 1895 be.
cause in the year first mentioned there
were plenty of green and growing suck
ers, which. being immature, did not
cure out by shredding time.
''As to the cost Of this fodder per
ton, and not per pound. of corn husked,
the shredder cannot grow the corn in
the fodder. but will husk or snap. as de-
sired, US many bushels of corn as the
eight hands that are required, besides
the machine men, would husk if each
took his team and went to the field.
pho cost per ton is simply that of cut
ting and shocking-70 cents per acre;
Irvine, 10 cents; use of tho harvester.
10 cents; shredding. $l.75; board of
the machine men and coal, 60 cents--a
total Of $3, 20 per acre. Fodder from an
acre of corn will average ~ tons.
therefore n ton Of shredded fodder costs
S2.5G. II one owns the machine. this
cost can be reduced from 90 to 10 cents
per ton. The estimate of the cost of the
fodder thus becomes $1.75 per ton. 1
have allowed nothing for the use of
teams except in cutting, as in shredding
time their work will be offset by the
work of gathering corn if it was left
standing. The value of the shredded
fodder in estimated at so per cent Of
that Of tame hay, which on land worth
from $45 to $50 per acre must bring So
per tan, or there lie a loss to landlord or
renter. This fodder is therefore worth
AS stored - per ton, and on an average
20 this year. The renter or landowner
Is thus making or saving $l.75 for each
mere Of corn hc thus handles, half the
rent and all the taxes. Would this
course lift tho mortgage if tho old,
ruinous way would pay the rent And
leave you even? Let us see.
"225 tons OF fodder. .s8s5 %
" acres OF oht straw ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100 20
70 acres of oornstalks. ......,.,.......... Is 75
Cost of my rough food per year,
S49S.75, or a triilo over 81 per day for
240 head of cattle.
Let us now look at the advantages.
Ono advantage is that by sowing
part OF the cornhelds TO rye tho last
time the corn is plowed. when the corn
Is cut, shredded and stored, you have
pasture worth from 90 cents to Sl.50
per acre that will take no moro fertility
from tho soil than crop of weeds.
When the corn il removed, part Of the
field can be plowed md thus relieve
the spring work, and this late blowing
Is preferable'to spring blowing on ac-
count of the condition of the ground
and the destruction Of insects My cat.
tie ON feed for market. my stockers and
my horses do as well MS when my farm
was half hay land. The hay land has
been reduced one-third, the pasture in
creased and the corn land largely. Oats
remain the same, and rye has been add.
ed. Tho stock of cattle, especially in
the winter, has been increased one.
third"
Crossing Wire Fences.
The want Of an easy mode of cross.
Ing wire fences where it is not deemed
advisable to place gates is felt where
lands arc subdiyided into small inclo.