The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-09-29
CORN.
A. q Substitute For CiOver-Cutting,
Curing and S~hrcddinE.

A. q Substitute For Clover-cuttlng,
Curing and shreddinE.
Providing a substitute for the clover
crop which has been so much of a fail
ure is a matter engaging a great deal
Of attention. Many who have not done
so before will now turn to the utiliza-
ton of the cornstalk. and this latter
will receive greater consideration in
farm economics. An Iowa Homestead
correspondent, who has no intention OF
"getting left on account Of lack of
clover, has the following to say about
corn fodder as it's substitute.
1t is a settled fact that there Is as
much food value in the stalk as in the
ear and when properly prepared is an
excellent substitute for clover and
much cheaper, as two crops may be
grown on the same land-i. e., corn and
fodder hay-thus increasing the size of
the farm by the size Of the cornfields.
l have found by experience, having
been short of hay for four seasons past
and at intervals for 20 years. that corn
fodder or slower Is the only substitute
that comes near (and it even goes be-
yond) the value of clover. and that it is
also the cheapest, as it is practically a
crop that has been thrown away hith-
ertO.
Small shocks cure more quickly and
make better feed than large ones and
are easier to handle. Ten hills square
for average corn is convenient, with
fewer or more hills, according to the
size Of stalks. Fodder is considerably
like hay in this, that the quality de-
ponds greatly on the way it is cured.
1t should be cut as early in the fall as
the ears are ripened and while the
stalk is still fresh, ana not after 1t be-
comes woody. as that Is no more ben
fetal as food than woody hay that Is
cut late. The succulence of he stalk
increases it's food value. My w en-
periments, as well as those Of my
neighbors, show that the flow n
quality Of the milk increases considera-
bly, by the use Of corn fodder after us
ing clover and decreases after feeding
clover again. Also in feeding fat cattle
I find that the increase in weight is
much greater than with hay. My stock
are very much commented upon Tor
their thrifty looks. II they have had
no hay this winter at all.
Now. as to methods of handling, l
find that cutting by hand is the cheap
est and best. One man can cut an
acre of. shocks ten hills square and
sometimes more in a day. After 1t is
cured it is baled by a machine which
binds a whole shock into II compact
bundle by a pressure Of 5000 pounds.
While so compressed a bale tie is put
around it. and two men or q man and
a boy can bale easily six to eight
acres a day. l load the shock with an
other part Of the machine (Which Is a
baler and loader combined) into a rack
and haul to barn and NOW away like
hay, still bound, the bundles packing
together compactly like bundles of
toothpicks. l have a fodder fork which
will lift three shocks at a time into tho
NOW in a manner similar to a hay fork
and carrier lifting hay into the NOW.
If there isn't barn room enough, 1t can
be stacked outside.
In the winter l shred it as l want to
use it. The shredder I use husks the
corr clean enough to shell. prefer
shredding, as the cattle will clean It
up, and the stalk, which they always
leave when fed whole, contains most
Of the nutriment. My shredder is In a
barn and run by horsepower. Two
men shred the corr and feed the stock
and do other chores, and l have less
trouble, in getting hands than in for.
mer years, as they prefer working un.
der shelter than in the field exposed to
all kinds Of weather.
Now, the expense of husking the old
way will cut and shock the corn, SC
that it will readily be seen that labor
is not increased, and, again, the wealth
er in October is much pleasanter tc
make hay or it's substitute than In
July, and the same amount Of energy
then will be more comfortably spent
in the cool fall. The inability to han
die the unwieldy fodder with amy de
gree Of ease has prejudiced the farmer
against the utilization Of this most
valuable product. There are machines
now on the market, however, tina,
make it mere boys play.
One Thing and Another.
The Kansas State Agricultural col
lege, Manhattan, Kan, has this yea
mn. a.