The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-05-08
Silage for Summer F4edinp.

The Southern White or ensiage corn
is preferred by many on account of its
enormous growth, says 0. J. Vinje of
Ohio in the Orange Judd Farmer. 1t
should be planted as early in spring as
the danger of frost is past, in order to
enable it to mature more perfectly. 1t
can be planted similar to any other field
corn, and should have the same cultiva-
ton. 1t has been demonstrated that
siage is often as good for summer feed
ing as for winter. | mean to experiment
this summer on making ensilage from
rye for summer use. The rye will be
cut about May 10 or 20. and the ground
planted to corn for winter silage. Last
year | cut field of clover early for hay
and Immediately prepared and planted
the field to corn. After the corn was re-
moved in the fall, the ground was cul>
tivated (never ploweCD and sown to the
rye. which will be sliced in May. This
might be called intensive farming with
vengeance. but farmers must practice,
something like it if they wish to sue
coed ut present low prices.
1t is necessary to plant an early va
riety of corn if planted late l have
planted as late as July 8, in northern
Ohio, with good success. Last year it
was planted the last week in June. Al
though caught by an unusually early
frost, the corn made very good ensilage.
1t had been planted in drills about twice
as thick as ordinary field corn. 1t de-
veloped great many ears, some of
which We're we'll matured. One adj
vantage in late planting is the ease with
which it is kept clean. 1t does not re-
quire more than half the labor than
when planted six or eight weeks earlier.
After the corn is removed the ground
requires but little preparation before
seeding to. rye. One thorough working
with spring tooth harrow or cultivator,
followed by a smoothing harrow, is all
that is required. l have sown rye as
late as October Is, with good results.
1t was as rank as could be desired, some
being lodged. But in order to bear such
continued cropping the land must be
rich or highly MANFRED. It certainly
will not pay to waste time and labor
on poor soil.
Straight Post and Rail Fence.
Farmers whose rail fences are becom-
ing dilapidated can with some labor and
out little cost make them better than
ever by taking down the worm fence
md using the best rails to make one in
straight line. 1t will need stakes on
each side at the ends of each rail driv-
Ell into the ground, and fastened with
one or more wires near the top. If only
cattle and horses are to be kept in or
out by the fence the bottom rails can
oe laid twelve or fifteen inches from
the ground. In this position the rails
will last longer than if resting on the
ground or OH fiat stone near it. Five
or six rails, we'll secured by stout stakes,
will make a fence that will keep most
kinds of stock from getting over it, though
it is best always to be sure. A barbed
wire at the top will prevent most stock
from making the attempt. The trouble
with wire fences is that when strung
on posts without rails an animal that is
playing or running cannot see the wires
until it becomes entangled in them, and
then its efforts to escape only make mat
ters worse.
How to Compost and Use Hen Manure.
G. H. Chesley keeps about 300 hens
suitably housed, and has tight platform
under the roost he keeps covered with an
absorbent Of thoroug hly dry and fine
earth or muck to catch every particle of
droppings from the roosts He cleans out
as often as necessary and puts it in a
dry place, and replenishes the dry alb
sorbent, continuing this through the
year, Before planting. the manure is
thoroughly pulverized by spreading it on
the barn floor and sprinkling it with
enough water to cause it to swell and
crumble. 1t is then worked thoroughly
Will tuc tOOl most suitable nn:ll very
fine, the finer the better, and enough
more fine dry earth or muck is mixed
with it to make one part hen manure to
nine parts dry earth or any other good
substitute He plows his green sward
land as level as possible, thoroughly pull
verizing it with good harrow, and fur
rows it to a fair depth for the rows three
feet apart: He then applies pint or
more of the compost to each hill at a
distance of from 10 to 20 inches apart,
covering a space of 10 inches to each hill,
covers this with earth to the depth of
half an inch or more, and then drops
from two to three eyes Oh each hill, and
covers TO the depth of two or more
inches. He applies more of the compost
to each hill through the season of cult
vation. doing the most of his work with
the cul+ivator and horse hoe. He be-
lieves in the thorough pulverization of
the soil and manure. Mr. Chesley uses
no other manure for his potatoes, and
gets 200 to 500 bushels per acre, of fine
quality. ANY surplus of the compost is
used as topdressing.-Ora Judd
Farmer.
Taste in Renovating the Barnyard.
\ commendable and noteworthy feat
ure in modern farm buildings is the inn
proved and ample facilities provided for
the feeding. watering, care and COM
nf ct fhn IN, l.