The Monitor-register., 1897-02-05
The Curing and Value of Corn Fodder
for Feed.

A paper prepared and read by Reeves
Flltcraft at the meeting of the Salem
County Board of Agriculture last week
Mr.. President and Members Of the Hglem
County Board Of Agriculture:-
The problem you have placed in Mp
hands to work out feel is difficult, but
l will deal with it to the best of my
ability. From the question referred to
me, suppose am to take the stalks
after the crop of corn is mstured. There.
fore, as soon as the stalks and corn are
properly matured, SO as to keep in shock,
cut and place forty. eight or sixty four
hills in each shock; 1t will stand better if
the latter number is used. Do not be
SO wasteful as some farmers are, by leav-
ing the stalks remain on the hill ntil
husked, thereby losing much of its feed
ing value; try and have all in shocks
before any frost falls. prefer to have
the corn husked when the stalks will not
break up and waste.
After the corn is husked tie at least
portion in bundles large enough to handle
conveniently and set in shock in the field.
About the last of Nozember NOW in the
barn or rick. Persons having no barn
room, or who do not wish to rick, I would
recommend, after the corn is husked, to
set up nicely in the field eight or nine
shocks to the acre, tighten each shock
and tie with string. After the shock has
settled, say one month, take the tightener
and go to each shock and tighten again,
straighten up, pull in at the top of shock
to keep out snow and storm and re. tie.
DO this. by all means, if the stalks are to
| remain in the field until fed. Another
very good plan is to run through the
cutter and elevate to the NOW; but this
cannot be done with safety unless they
are perfectly cured and dry, say after
| Christmas.
AS to value per acre. If you wish to
receive the value of stalks never feed by
| throwing into the yard, as the old custom,
thus allowing the COWS to trample them
L
feeding basket, which is called a two
bushel or cob basket, measured shock
of stalks as it was run through the cutter,
and counted out seventy one baskets, as
| full as our COWS will eat at feeding.
Think of it, you farmers who have been
throwing money under the cows feet.
| When on the farm, at my parents
home, it was our custom to throw into
the yard, to sixteen or eighteen COWS, one
large shock of stalks; and though none
wasted, as there appeared to be nothing
left but the poles after the COWS were
done feeding, think of throwing one
shook into seventy COWS to be trampled
and wasted. That is just what one large
shock will feed if properly cut and fed
in the stables. l have practissd cutting
and feeding stalks in the stables for
twenty two years, and should be very
sorry to have to 60 back to the old way.
Now again as to value per acre. One
feed of hay weighs about six pounds, at
one half cent per pound, equals three
cents per feed; seventy feeds of stalks at
three cents each equals SO 10 per shock,
and eight shocks to the acre equals $3.50.
And this i 8 not all, the butts and refuse
make the incest bedding for cattle that I
ever used.
Another great waste by feeding in the
yard in cold and stormy 'wea thss.siss that
your COWS suffer and shrink in quantity
of milk, and sslarge quantities of feed
are wasted in trying to keep up the ami
| NAL heat. This is all saved by giving
your cows good comfortable quarters and
feeding i9 The stable.
In comparing the value of timothy hay
with good corn fodder as rougk&ge for
COWS, my preference is in favor of the
corn fodder. And now, Brother Farm
ers, if we would stop this constant
growing about hard times and examine
and stop someao tnssieaks aasthe farm,
do business son. business principles, and
look as close e Dasiness as other pro-
fessions, we would have less cause for so
much fault finding.