The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-11-18
Value OF the Corn Stalk.

It has been shown by careful cxper-
iment that this portion of the plant
that is, the stalk-usually considered
worthless for food, is by weight about
23.70, or nearly one-fourth of the en-
tire crop, and contains a large per
cent. Of crude protein and carbohy-
drates, elements so important in max
ing flesh, milk, fat and other part of
the animal structure. The question
is how to utilize these elements in the
cheapest and most effective manner.
Every farmer knows the objections to
attempting to feed the stalks whole.
Besides the annoyance and inconven-
ice of handling them, the stock will
Aly partly eat them, and that with
little relish, while the uneaten and
and wasted portions are thrown under
foot to seriously interfere with the
comfort of the animals and feeding
operations. If thrown out into the
barnyard or manure pile, it is months
before they are sufficiently decayed to
admit of their being used for manure.
Under these conditions it is no wonder
that they are generally regarded as
nuisance, and that farmers who have
not Investigated their true value con-
slider them worse than useless. But
where fact is SO we'll established as
that these usually rejected portions of
our corn crop are of decided feeding
value, farmers should no longer con-
tinue the old wasteful plan of plowing
them under, or, worse still, piling
them into heaps and burning them,
which amounts practically to throw
ing away that much valuable animal
food. A few progressive Southern
farmers have already abolished the
old, expensive plan Of pulling fod-
der,' and either saving the plant en-
tire and cutting up all the parts, or
after the ears are taken off, cutting up
or shredding the stalk, leaves and
shuck. On most farms it is desirable
to have some car corn. and the plan
generally preferred is to save the ears
and cut up what remains.
Shredded fodder is not only very
nutritious and highly relished by
stock Of all kinds, but, being soft and
spongy, any waste is a frst-class ab-
sorbent and bedding for farm animals.
1t serves to retain the liquid manure
and being easy to handle and quick to
decompose, leaves nothing to be de-
sired in the way of foundation for our
compost heaps. The chief difficulty
heretofore encountered has been that
sometimes, from careless storing or
curing, the stalks decay. It has been
shown, however, that if thoroughly
cured and then shredded, or stored
when perfectly free from the moisture
of dew or rain, no such difficulty is
experienced. We have heretofore
called attention to the Importance of
stopping this leak, through which
thousands of dollars are allowed to
waste. One cause of the general in
difference to this subject has been the
cost of the machinery necessary to
shred the crop which has been far be-
yond the means of the ordinary farm
er.'
The hand machines more recently
introduced are much more reasonable
in price and range in cutting capacity
for the needs of from three to ten head
of stock. By the use of these small
er machines the farmer may cut his
corn fodder as it is needed. Thus it
will be seen that the man who cannot
afford silo may yet be able to pay for
cutter. and by curing and cutting his
corn plant whole may derive the same
benefits practically as are now being
enjoyed by those who are using ensil-
age.
Professor Fl. E. Afford, of the Mary
land Experiment Station, says: sBy
analysis it is shown that two pounds
of stalk butts that is, the stalks,
after the leaves, cops and ears have
been taken off-''contain as much nu-
triment as one pound of corn and cob
meal, and that two and half pounds
of stalks are equivalent as food to one
pound of good corn meal.
On this basis it doesn't take an in
tricate calculation to show how great
waste our present plan involves. It
is anywhere from three to seven
bushels an acre, according to the size
of the stalk and the number left stand
ing on each acre.-Southern Cuztiva-
tor