Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-30

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dry matter.
| Averaging the results that have beer
obtained by American experiment sta
tions, we find the gain in per cent be
tween the first and last cutting TO be 10
for the dry matter, 9S for the crude pro
tein and 265 for the carbohydrates. W.
learn from these results the wisdom o
lallowing the corn plant to fairly wei
mature before cutting, particularly rs /
is for the carbohydrates that we grow it
1t is, of course, true that immature corr
is little more digestible than the ma
ture, but the increased yield of dry mat
ter far more than offsets that. Another
reason for delaying the cutting until the
corn is well matured is that it makes
better silage.
METHODS OF PLANTING CORN.
The thicker corn is planted the greater
the relative proportion of stalks and
foliage to the seed. In general we would
plant for the silo not much different
from what we would for field curing
certainly no nearer in the rows, but pos
sibly with a few more kernels to the
foot in the row.
| The Connecticut experiment station
divided field of white dent corn into
six l-20 acre plats, with one plat, one
stalk in four feet; one plat two stalks in
four feet; one plat, four stalks in foul
/ feet; one plat, two stalks to one foot
and one plat, foul stalks to one foot,
and one plat, eight stalks to one foot,
and obtained yields rs follows: two in
four gave POI 6 pounds; four in four gave
307.2 pounds; one in four gave 104.3
pounds of dry matter; two in one SIG
pounds; four in one gave 29I.2 pounds
eight in one gave 260.3 pounds. Thus II
will be seen that two stalks in one foot
gave the best results for silage purposes,
that is, the most dry matter, although
eight stalks to the foot gave the most
gross weight, while four stalks in foul
feet gave the most cobs and kernels and
| four stalks in one foot the most stover.
These results agree with our experience.
| We now plant for the silo as nearly as
possible two kernels to the foot in the
| row, and vary width of row somewhat in
accordance with the variety of corn
\ planted.
| These statements naturally bring us to
the conclusion that we should plant corn
in drills rather than in hills. We would
do this, either for the silo or for field
curing. More stalks can be grown per
acre and consequently more dry matter.
| When the cultivation is made there are
no ''hills'' to hinder the plow, and the
roots decaying more evenly in the soil
furnish plant food for future crops to
better advantage. We have never tried
Il I,,t f.,.,
ers in the eastern part of Maine follow
this practice for soiling, sowing thinly,
and report good results. In an expert
ment at Geneva, \. Y, however, in
1889, it was found that the yield fOI
broadcaSted corn was ~, 7S0 pounds pei
acre as against IA or pounds in drills.
| PREPARATION OF CORN LAND.
Corn, like most other hoed crops,
thrives best on land rich in humus, con,
sequently clover sod makes the very
best possible place for it. The barn
manure used should be well worked into
the soil, preferably with the plow. The
plowing should not be deep, except
where there are large amounts of vege-
| table matter to turn under, and may be
done in fall or spring as is most conven'
lent. After the land is well plowed and
the fertilizer well covered and worked
into the soil, then comes the preparation
of the seed bed, which is matter OF
great Importance. 1t can hardly be
overdone. Many failures come from a
poorly prepared seed bed, particularly
ON fall plowed land. If the work is
done by hired help, it is well to direct
them to Ait to their satisfaction, ano
when thatis done, require them to re-
peat it, beginning right over again. The
tools best adapted to this work, are the
spring tooth, the disc and the Acme har'
rows. The disc will break down the
burrows, tighten up the soil and prepare
it for the spring tooth. The spring
tooth will mellow to great depth with
out turning up sods, if it is used lightly
at first. The Acme will pulverize and
level the top of the soil better than any
smoothing harrow we ever used. 1t
draws easier and is more durable. Its
also very useful for leveling land fol
sowing and for covering many OF the
lighter grains.
CULTIVATION OF THE CROP.
1t will be seen that, with this fine
preparation of the seed bed just de
scribed, there will be less necessity fol
after cultivation; still, that should not
be neglected. Weeds should be pre-.
vented from growing. This is best done
by frequent. cultivation, beginning be
fore the corn is up. Avoid stirring the
ground deeply now; this was part of th'
preparation of the seed bed and neet
not be repeated. Do not cultivate jus
for fun, but strive to keep the weeds
down and thssurfaee loose and open, II
this way evaporation will be checked
moisture will be retained, and the plant
will be kept in the best possible condi
tion for growth.
| sILoS.
The first consideration in the buildiu!
of a silo is that it must be air-tight. A
long as this condition is secured it make
but little difference how it is built. Tn
taste and convenience of the owne
should regulate this. In general for in
side silos, the square form is preferable
as all the space of a joint or band can b'
|, utilized, and with corners cut by puttini
, up plank eight or ten inches wide, there
will be practically no waste. A goot
solid foundation must be secured, there
, fore the silo must start from the ground
After having selected the site, it shoul
be secured from surface drainage eithe
by natural or artificial means, then
trench should be dug into which to plac
= the sills. The sills should be placed,
Inside building, so that the inside SUI
r faces will correspond with the inside
the timbers above them to which it
desired to nail the boards. After tn
sills are well secured at the corner
9 (which may be done by halving togethe
i, and thoroughly spiking) the trench ma
. be filled outside of the sills with sma
9 rocks well tamped down, and the GREY
g ices filled with cement. This will pr'
vent the sills from rotting. Next see
7 lit that there is sufficient number
!. firm bearings above these sills so tn;
/ when the sides are fastened to thel
there can be no spreading. This is e.
sentially necessary, as the lateral pres
lure, particularly of cut silage, is consit