The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-04-21

QSr-urSG 0eRau 10 10 EbbiSGu uSLS h1dhy
years e there was no experience to
be Of help in the matter. Western o.
Southern dent corr was soWn broad
cast, at the rate of three bushels TO the
acre. OF course cultivation was out Of
the question. On rich land there would
be an immense growth Of stalks, but
without ears. Experience soon proved
this to be Of little value for feeding
purposes. I am sorry to say thatsome
still fellow this practice, but there is q
better way. For yearsa variety known
as the Sanford corn, of good size, hardy
and productive, has been used for this
purpose and is probably now the lead
iag kind grown in New Eaglaud.
In autumn / turn over nicely such
parts Of my meadows as are beginning
80 fell IN producing a satisfactory crop
Of bay-not over a ton to the acre.
There is no manure Gppied to this crop.
In spring the land is well h8rroweda and
cleared Of any stones u other OhstrUc-
lions to good cultivation. Plant in
rows three feet and hills two feet apart.
US Is horse planter With 800 pounds Of
some standard eupor phosphate and
one, half buehel of seed 10 the ecTe, all
performed at one operation ana better
than could be done by hand. This 10
ali of the fertilizer used, un;aos inRomo
cases q light tsp dressiagof wood ashes
is given lasor IL the season. AS soon
- he corn IS fairly cut Ct the ground
toe cultivation commences.
FIRST, a weedcr of light smoothing
harrow is used, going ie2gthwiae II the
rows. This lightens the surface SOL.
! destroys terminating weeds and GOES
not injure the corn. This operation
! should be repeated two or three times.
! T1en finish with the cuLtivat0r and
! hand hoe if necessary. If too thick
the corn should be thinDed st this
time. The a;m should aIways be 10
! secure a goodly amount Of ears, as this
Is what gives the fodder its in~Creas-d
value. In a short time after getting
well started the corn which is a vigor-
Gus grower, sending its shoots well
down into the soil and standing erect,
so covers the ground as to prevent the
! growth Of weeds and grass. Hereends
the cultivation.
After the corn gets it's growth the
fields are a sight to behold, and when
| the time comes for harvesting, which
should be when the ears ere well de,
velOped, there will be some work to do,
but it will pay. All wanted is fed green
and the rest cut up at tie roots ard put
in large stocks to cure. 1t is as easily
put up as the common field corn, only
there is a coed deal more of it. For
years, since peTsuing the method here
described, the average yield must have
been five ions Of cured fodder to the
acre on land that would not have pro
duCed more than enc ton Of hay. Have
had it go az high as eight tons. We
calculate this cured fodder js as good,
ton for ton, as the best hay for COWS
giving milk. The past winters cxpe
rience with it has been very gratifying.
The first part Of the winter it was fed
altogether, then once a day with one
feeding Of hay. Ia this way it lasted
until nearly March and along with the
grain feed produced a good quantity
and quality Of milk rich in butter fat.
Here are the facts in the case and
anyone interested "a readily sec that
tIis is a cheap and valuable crop, add
iug LARGELY to the feeding resources OF
he farm. o. course others similarly
situated can do just as well, as there q
no secret or trick about it.
Z r TCWLE.
Franklin Co, VT.