The silver star., 1898-07-07
Farm AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AORICULTURISTS
some Up-to-Date Hints About Gull
tivation of the Soil and Yields
Observation-Disclosures viticuiture and
Horticulture.
About shredded Corn Fodder.

About Shredded Corn Fodder.
To the Editor of The Farmers Re-
view: l have read with considerable
interest the remarks at the Illinois
State Dairymen's convention on the
subject OF corn fodder. as given In your
paper Of 9th and 10th insts. While
those discussing the matter realize the
great value OF corn fodder as feed
product when properly prepared. their
comparisons with other feed has not
quite reached the experience OF some
others. Mr.. Giles Green, one OF the
largest farmers in Whiteside county
stated before a convention Of farmers
that he had tested the value OF shred
ded fodder with good timothy hay as
a feed for horses. He took pair OF
good healthy horses and weighed into
the manger all the hay the pair OF
horses could eat in twentyfour hours,
and took out of the manger and weigh
ed what they had not eaten. and did
the same with shredded fodder, ana
found the horses had eaten only four
teen pounds of shredded fodder and
had eaten thirty-seven pounds OF tim
othy hay The difference being 2h
times more hay to satisfy the horses
than fodder which was an astonishing
statement to the farmers present. MIR.
Green has fed but little hay to either
horses or cattle. He finds the fodder
is much more satisfactory than hay,
and feeds from $50 to 200 head OF cat
tie. also large number OF horses each
year. The value of the fodder as
feed depends on the time 1t is cut on.
1t has been found that the proper time
to cut off the fodder and get 1t into
the shock is after the kernels OF the
ear begin to dent, which is an evidence
that the drying process has COM
menced, after which the development
or growth of the corn has ceased.
When cut at this stage the corn, when
shelled, will weigh more to the bushel
than when left to dry on the stalk be-
fore cutting. Cause, the kernel will
dry quicker and harder In the shock
than when left on the stalk on the
ground. When dried on the stalk each
kernel will have a pithy end, which
helps to make up the bulk to the meas
ure, but does not add to the weight.
When cut at this stage the saccharine
matter which produces the ear is still
inherent in the stalk. which is pre-
served by drying after being cut of.
and adds to the quality Of the fodder.
When horses are fed on timothy hay
their bowels become distended and
cause more or less constipation, while
with fodder the bowels can be kept in
healthy condition, making the evac-
uations easier and more healthy. The
same result will be noticeable In feed
ing cattle or sheep. When fodder is
plentiful feed 1t literally. and what is
not eaten may be used for bedding.
1t will make better bedding than
straw. as 1t absorbs the liquids and
droppings Of the animals better. As
feed for milk cows 1t is far better than
any kind Of hay. 1t will produce more
milk and richer In butter fat than can
be attained from feeding hay. I think
Prof. Sanborn has given out as the re-
suit Of experience with shredded fod-
der that when properly prepared It is
better feed for cows than ensilage;
while ensilage may produce a larger
now Of milk. the milk will not be 80
rich in butter fat. nor will the butter
keep 30 well as when the COWS are fed
on dry fodder. The condensed milk
factory at Dixon. Illinois. will not buy
milk from cows fed on ensilage, as
they claim the milk will not keep 30
well. l am glad to see this discussion
going on in reference to the value of
corn fodder. The farmers In the corn
growing belt have wasted enough OF
their corn crop by letting the fodder
stand In the field to pay the national
debt every year. being satisfied to 20
into the field and take the ear Of corn
and letting the stalk 90 to waste, which
contains as much feeding value to the
farmer as the ear. although 1t Is not
worth as much as a commercial COM
modify. There are many farmers who
are not aware that the stalk on which
the corn grows Is about equal In
weight to the ear Of corn. that Is. n
field OF corn which will produce two
tons OF corn to the acre will produce
the same weight OF fodder. / believe
] was the first person to bring into NO.
tice shredded corn fodder az valuable
feed. and have some other expert
ments In process which will be a won
derful development to the farmers In
the further manipulation Of corn fod-
der as feed which will show results
that have never been attained. and will
still further increase the value Of the
corn crop.
Some wheat Experiments.
Al the Kansas experiment station
some experiments have been carried
on In wheat culture. and the following
summary is published In bulletin II: