The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-04-12
MAKING PROVISION FOR SUMMER
SOILING FOR TaE DAIRY.

correspondence OF the Progressive Farmer.
Ig may seem a little early to talk
about dry or scant summer pastures
and the necessity Of providing ezra
feed for tho COWS when the milk begins
TO fail during the hot days Of next
July, but il this provision is to be made
it Ia one too early to arrange for what
is to be done. Hare at the East the
snow still lies (Harch) heavy on the
ground, but far away at the West and
South seeding may even now be in
progress.
This work of providing extra forage
for cows when the pastures begin to
fail will depend very much on the
locality and the variety and condition
of the grasses there growing. It is pcs
sible that in some portions of the coun
try, especially where the pastures are
comp lratively new, or the famous
Kentucky blue or other equally good
grasses predominant, there will be lit
tie necessity for providing for exsrG
feed for late summer or early fall, but
it is probable these are the exceptions
to the general rule.
Farmers who make dairying q lead
ing industry are realizing more and
more the Importance OF, as far as pos
sible, keeping up the flow of milk
through the season. True this requires
considerable time and labor in growing
the necessary crops for the purpose,
but this should not be considered bur,
densome when the results will fully
justify the expenditure.
Now as to what crops shall be raised
for the purpose, will depend largely or
what wII be found the most profitable
or eagily produced in any particular
locality. The consideration should be
to select these plants that will get IN
condition IS early as may be desirable
for use. Wherever the clovers can be
extensively raised these will make thu
be q o carly green feed for cowa.
ThO3e -afmers who live where alfalfa
Fl .urlsb 8 should have in this one or
tbs best cg"rps for tia purpose, particu
larry Rs it yields 50 many cuttings in
the season. Bat Gil cannot avail them
selves Of this most excellent forage
plant and something else must be used
instead. Oats, or cats and pease sown
together as early as possible and for a
time at frt quent INTERMEDIARY once in
two weeks-would give a succession of
green feed until corn, the great forage
crop, be far enough advanced to feed.
Here at the e Ast we often find it neces
sery TO feed grain before the corn gets
in condition to use, but in some cases
the oats and pease might be substituted
for this,
But it is quite possible that before
long ensilage will become the staple
feed 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,
RfCer it ia in the silo. But compare
lively few follow this method now, so
the next best thing to do will be to
grow the crops and feed them green
The season for feeding corn in it's
green state may be quite perceptibly
extended by first planting some of the
earlier varieties, TO be succeeded by tee
kinds most generally grown for the
principal crop. It will be found quite
important to adapt the varieties of
cJrn-as we'll as of all other crops
groWn-to the location and 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 varie
ty for the general crop, which it will
be we'll to use.
Tnis fodder corn crop, as il called, ls
q very profitable n when properly
Orown bus Il should be- well fertilized