The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-09-04
FARMER AND PLANTER.
SAVING FORAGE CROPS.
An Important Matter to he Considered By
the Stock Raiser.

An Important Matter to he Considered by
the Stock Raiser.
For curing sorghum in the safest
manner, we recommend the following
items to the attention of your readers:
! We should attempt to cut the sorghum
crop only when assured of some three
DAYS of clear weather to follow the
cutting. With less drying out time on
sorghum in the swath, we can expect
but little success. To cure two-ton
cutting in middle, northern, or eastern
Texas, cut the first day, rake into light
windrows the third day, with rake pile
into heaps on the fourth day, and open
up heaps and haul on the sixth day
from cutting. Should rain or damp
weather occur, the time must be ex-
tended. IF rain threatens while the hay
is in piles damage may be entirely pre-
| vented by shaping up the hay into cocks
with fork. This can be done with but
little labor, and though such handling
adds to the cost. this amount is smaller
by far than the loss of hay or damage
to quality if exposed to rain. Open up
the cocks after second day and allow
the sweat to dry out for two to six
hours and the hay is then thoroughly
cured and ready to be hauled. 1t will
not tend to heat again in stack because
the moisture has been driven from the
thick parts of stalk and the entire mass
has been rendered sterile to the fer
ment germs that first caused the heat.
Should the yield of hay be less than
two tons per acre at cutting, a CORE
spending shorter time will be neces-
sary to cure. A heavy rain can not
penetrate a properly formed cock of
half-cured sorghum. 1t is economical
that each of these cocks should be as
large as may be convenient. Should
high wind be feared, strings or wire
with small weights attached may be
used to prevent hay from blowing.
In many cases it is not necessary to
use the fork in forming the piles in
which the sorghum is allowed to heat.
the horse hay rake, and the desired
heating process win follow without
damage, should the weather remain
clear. In many parts OF the west
sorghum hay is not allowed to cure in
piles. but it simply sun dries where it
falls, and is raked and handled within
a few hours. This system results in
burning out the sorghum exposed to
the direct action of the sun, and inn
pairs its value and digestibility. The
great while requiredin drying out ex
/ poses the cut crop to changes in weather
that often results disastrously.
1
: STACKING.
Much of the sorghum grown in the
emi-arid portions of the state and fur
!. Their west is planted in drills and cul
tivated for protection against drought
Under such conditions, one of the bes,
and cheapest methods used in saving
this crop is to employ the corn AND
cane harvesting machines. However
we have found that slide with slant
ing knives attached arranged to Gu
two rows at one trip is an excellent and
l cheap machine. The cut sorghum will
usually cure out quickly, even wheI
e stacked compactly. In some cases tn,
s crop is stacked by placing the butts oil
the ground and ranging the bundle
j against fence or pole. A possible OBJ
i lection to this form of stacking may b.
found In the tendency to dry out to-
8 much if allowed to stand for a lonI
e while. If this method be attempted il
: the eastern portion Of the state or nea
|. the gulf coast, it is likely to result il
q fermented or brown hay that is sof
d and partly decomposed and slight
q nodded in places. In stacking larg
quantities of hay. we prefer to use tn
. continuous stack, or rick" since tn
q hay will hold its form better in thi
shape than in the round stack. Tn
most careful workman in the field
= needed to properly lay hay in stack
:. The center must be uniformly KEEP
higher than the edges and the packinl
, should be even or the stack will toppl
). after standing few weeks. If sol
ghum be used no cover is needed to to
J. out the stack and protect the forag
- against one seasons rain, but if tn
l. stack consists of such open hays as q
g falfa or pea vines, tarpaulin can b
economically used to protect hay frol
e. weather. 1t is fact generally note
l. that comparatively but little of the ha
IT produced in the south is put under
1t roof covering during the season <Ehi
u can be attributed to. the conspicuor
n, absence of large barns upon the ave-
II age southern farm.
It Unless care be used in locating til
* stack, or rick, the cost of hauling an
IS handling the cured hay will prove e;
E. cessive and destroy profit. Select
S, place for stacking as near the meado'
is as may be convenient for feeding {
j. balinH. In hauling to stack use eth,
ir the slow down" wagon or Ego devi
S. rake. In either case stacking m
ID chine will be needed upon the lar5
h hay farm. If the slow down" wage
TO be used, an automatic loading machiI
10 will be required. With this to put Il
$. hay on the wagon and stacking-fol
n q Il. L =