Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-12
SAVE CORN FODDER.
Iowa Experiment Station Gives Some
Valuable Hints.

Iowa Experiment Station Gives Some
Valuable Hints.
Ames, Sept 12.-Qowa Experiment
Station) THE corn crop area in Iowa
is estimated at over eight million
acres. Notwithstanding the drouth,
the crop will yield about ton of fod-
der per acre and some of it consider
able more. At present prices of hay
and other farm feeds, this product is
easily worth $3.50 to So per ton when
properly cured. The corn fodder pro-
duct of the state therefore represents
$50, 100000 to $25,000000 worth of
feed at prevailing prices. The corn
fodder that reaches maturity this sea
son will be richer in nutrients and will
have a higher feeding value per ton
than fodder of more luXuriant growth
such as ordinarily takes place.
The value of this product depends
largely on the time of cutting, as well
as the manner of keeping and feeding.
Early cutting should be avoided as it
means loss of nutrients and unsatisfac-
tory feed. 1t ordinarily requires from
lis to $50 days to mature good crop
OF corn in Iowa but practically all of
the real nutritive or feeding value of a
crop is made and stored in the plant
during the, last six weeks between
what is known as the milk and the
} well denied stages of the grain, and
over so per cent of the feeding value
of the crop is made during the last so
days.
The increase of nutrients in the
corn crop during the ripening process
frl1 nd oh
the experiment stations, and some de-
cidedly interesting and practical in
formation has been gathered that
should serve as. guide to the farmer in
! utilizing the corn crop, which will be
of so much Importance during the
coming winter.
An acre of corn cut July 80 yielded
: nine tons of fodder, more than eight
: tons or over 81 per cent of which was
water. By leaving the corn stand UNI
til September Z, the yield was increas-
ed to sixteen tons and the water re-
duced to n per cent The total yield
of dry matter. per acre. which repre-.
sents all that has any feeding value
was increased from four-fifths OF a
2 ton per acre at the tasseling stage to
; four tons per acre, Oh five times. the
. original amount, at the fully ripe stage
S By a study of the chemical compost
e ton of the corn fodder at the different
/ stages OF growth, it was found that
J. the principal nutrients, albuminoids
4 nitrogen, free extract or starch and
f sugar, and ether extract or fat, in an
0 acre OF corn was even greater between
/. the period OF tasseiing and ripening
than the difference in yield
Figures make it clear that an aero
of corn at maturity is worth fully fou,
\ times as much as it is when in, tassel
and that an acre OF corn when in tn,
= glazed or denied stage of the ears i.
q worth about twice as much as whe1
4 in milk
The time for cutting corn, to secure
n the biggest returns and value of fod
@ der and grain combined is compare
q lively short. AS rule, it does no
J. exceed ten days at the outside, al
s though it may vary more than this
with early and late varieties. Thes,
facts make it clear that the condition
should be carefully studied and tn
crop secured when it will yield tn
n. highest returns in feeding value AM
quality of product. The corn situation
in this state has materially improves
/ during the last half of August, and i
;, the weather conditions are favorabl
70 it will make still greater improvement
!. during the first ten. or fifteen days i
- September. Practically all of the cor
;s fodder of the state should be saved
10 but the crop should be allowed to ms
If ture and the product secured in tn
% best possible condition. At the low
Experiment Station an increase of tie
bushels per acre has taken place i
the corn crop in ten days to tw
weeks, between the beginning of tn
/, denting stage and the fully dente
condition. The exact condition of tn
crop in which it will give the best II
~ turns. all things considered, cannot b
a. clearly described in all cases and Ii,
W der all conditions. but ordinarily it
x found when the ears are fully dente
ed and the lower leaves of the stalk hav
lie turned brown. Some times the cor
SIS crop ripens very quickly. owing to
+ period of heat and dry weather i
September. The corn fields should /
G. watched closely and when the plant
in the right condition, the corn bin
'g ers or cutters should be started an
kept at work continuously until tt
re- crop is secured. Unless corn field
On are very badly fired" and the stall
is entirely dry and withered, the plal
in will gather considerable nutrient du
lie ing the last thirty days of the seaso
i'll Dry and brown leaves do not by at
ne means indicate that the plant is d
stoyed, so far as the growth and ella
Grafton of nutriment in the stalk
concerned even though the ears me-
be entirely lacking. Some of the wor
M fired corn in the vicinity of Ames h;
been analyzed by DR.. Wecms. static
or chemist. and found to contain over
:. per cent of water, which is moro this
10. was found il green corn in norm
IN. condition where it had not suffert
. from the drnuth. Both practical G
III. perience and observation in feediI
ira and careful chemical study demo
strate that the corn plant makes al
stores most OF its tlutriment duri,
: the latter stages of growth. and tn
should be kept in mind in securil
by the present seasons crop-
Iowa EyDeriment Station AmoS