The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-11-30
SHREDDED CORN STALKS.
They Make Nest Excellent Food for
Stock.

Il. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner Of Ag-
riculture Of Georgia, says in a recent
report:
As matter Of much importance to
farmers, | have again called their atten-
ton to the immense value of the corn
stalks usually left standing and wasting
in the fields when they are shredded and
used for forage. l have recently had a
conversation with gentleman who is
now selling all he can make of this for
age at SO ton in carload lots, and Sl2
ton in smaller quantities His expe-
rience is that from Il to p tons of
shredded fodder can be made to the
acre, according to the size and number
of plants, and that large machine will
cut each day product from six to
twelve acres. Of course in both eases
the amount is determined by the quail
ty and yield Of the corn crop. 1t has
been ascertained that the largest ma
chimes accomplish more profitable and
more satisfactory work than the smaller
ones, the stalk being more thoroughly
cut and shredded. These machines
being portable, if one farmer cannot
afford the higher price for the lager
machine: q combination Of farmers can
invest in one, and thus by moving from
one farm to another, the stalks for a
neighborhood may be converted into a
wholesome and nutritive food. Or, as
suggested before, one man may own
such machine, and by working all
farms in reach during the fall and win
ter, the entire crop Of corn stalks may
be shredded without expense to the
owners. A strange proposition, but
nevertheless true, because the toll may
be paid in kind, and is taken from an
otherwise worthless product.
At the experiment station farm the
stripped stalks, which had been left
standing in the field until January,
were hauled up and shredded. The
product was not only readily eaten by
the farm animals, but upon analysis
was found to contain more nutriment
than an equal amount Of cotton seed
hulls; now SO popular popular as stock
food. The shredded fodder has this
additional advantage over the hulls,
that it is much more relished by horses
and mules, as we'll as cattle, and there
is not the same precaution necessary in
feeding it. 1t is well known by those
who feed cotton seed hulls that there is
danger Of it's becoming compacted, if
fed in too large quantities, and that it
is always safer to mix it with other
more concentrated food stuffs.
The utilization Of such tremendous
quantity of forage will enable us not
ouly to raise more and better cattle and
farm stock for home use, but will give
an impetus to stock raising for export.
There is growing demand from the
West for Southern cattle, and with this
enormous addition to our food stuffs, a
com mparatively large number Of beeves
may be successfully raised to meet this
market without drawing too heavily
upon the other resources Of the farm.
Thus will be opened new source Of in
come for the South, and also the foun-
dation be laid for direct expectation
to Europe Of thousands of South
ern raised beeves. We have every
advantage Of climate and transporta-
tion, and once the business gets a firm
foothold we can scarcely compute its
benefits to the South.
Our superior situation and environ
ments will give US an immense leverage
over our Western competitors. This
plan Of shredding and utilizing the
otherwise useless cornstalks is growing
| in favor each day, and the time is COM
ing when shredded fodder will be as
much an article Of commerce as the
popular cotton seed hulls, once consid-
cred equally worthless.