The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-04
Prepare for Selling Crops.

Now is the time to make preparation
for supplying the dairy herd with for
age next July and August when the
pastures have become dry and parched
from the drought that comes about
1t is not only necessary to provide for
this extra feed for the benefit Of the
milk supply at that particular season,
for if cow is allowed to shrink in her
milk product on account of insufficient
feed 1t is almost impossible to get her
back to her full capacity under any
method of feeding until she has come
fresh in milk again. Something can be
done in liberal feeding after shrinkage
but she will not quite regain the flow
that might have been had under q
proper feed during this critical period
of the year. Those who make dairying
leading and special business under
stand very we'll the necessity of making
this provision for the reasons already
stated. And, besides, the practice of
depending less upon pastures and more
upon soiling crops during all months of
the summer season is fast being adopt
ed; hence the great Importance attached
to this matter.
We find in the Wisconsin Farmer q
communication from E. r. Towle in
regard to the crops to be grown for this
purpose from which we quote as fol-
lows:
"Now as to what crops shall be rails
ed for the purpose will depend largely
on what will be found the most profit.
able or easily produced in any particu-
lar locality. The consideration should
be to select these plants that will get in
condition as early as may be desirable
for use. Wherever the clovers can be
extensively raised these will make the
best of early green feed for cows.
flourishes should have in this one of
the best crops for the purpose, particu-
larly as it yields 80 many cuttings in
the season. But all cannot avail them
selves of this most excellent forage
plant and something else must be used
instead. Oats, or oats and peas sown
together as early as possible and for a
time at frequent intervals-say once in
two weeks-would give succession of
green feed until corn, the great forage
crop, be far enough advanced to feed.
Here at the east we often find it nee
essary to feed grain before the corn
gets in condition to use, but in some
cases the oats and peas might be sub
stituted for this.
"But it is quite possible that before
long ensilage will become the staple
food in summer and autumn, taking
the place of the green fodder crops.
Experience is. fast proving that this is
most excellent for the purpose and will
require much less work in feeding,
after it is in the silo. But compare
lively few follow this method now, 30
the next best thing to do will be to
grow the crops and feed them green.
''The season for feeding corn in its
green state may be quite perceptibly
extended by first planting some of the
earlier varieties, to be succeeded by
the kinds most generally grown for the
principal crop. 1t will be found quite
important to adopt the varieties of corn
as well as of all other crops grown
to the location of the soil. Some of the
sweet varieties will be found profitable
for early planting, while the larger
kinds will do we'll for later. In all
parts of the country there will be some
one best or most profitable variety for
the general crop, which it will be we'll
to use.
This fodder corn crop, as it is called,
is very profitable one when properly
grown, but it should be we'll fertilized,
planted and cultivated to produce the
best results. Now all of this can be
readily and easily done by the use of
implements adapted to the purpose,
making it one of the most cheaply
grown on the farm, wherever this plant
will flourish. 1t should be borne in
mind that quite an advanced state of
maturity in the crop is found to pro-
duce decidedly the best results when
being fed, hence the necessity of plant
ing such varieties, or as early in the
season as possible, in order that this
stage of development may be reached
at time when the crop is needed for
use. This being the case it is not best
to plant 30 thickly but there will be a
fair proportion of ears. This rule will
also apply when it is desirable to cure
any part of the crop to feed when dry,
or to put in the silo. This is found to
he the result of exnerience as we'll az