The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-11-19

From 10 to 40 percent can be saved
On corn fodder ny preparation before
feeding. according to the quality of the
fodder. As corn picked in their en-
tirety were formerly thrown into the
barnyard to be picked over by cattle
their consumption due to proper pre-
paration is a clear gain. The corn
shredder has now come into use, and
It is saving millions of tons of fodder
annually. Some portions of shredded
fodder will be rejected by cattle, but
only little when the corn is harvested
at the proper stage. The quality de-
pends upon when the corn is removed
from the ground and shocked, but 1t
is the cutter or shredder that enables
the farmer to use the whole of his
corn crop. The ensilage cutter is also
as serviceable for cured corn fodder as
for ensilage. There can be no loss,
even If the reduced fodder Is uneaten,
as the refuse can be used for bedding,
and then as absorbent material in the
manure heap. In fact, IL the cutter and
shredder were used for no other pur-
pose than 10 convert the stalks into
bedding they would be valuable; but
there will be but little of the corn
fodder rejected il 1t is bright and in
good condition. 1t is of importance to
cive the saving of fodder more atten-
ton, as il Is more valuable than the
grain If carefully prepared for the an
imals Horses keep we'll on good fod-
der. and come out in the spring ready
for work. but If the fodder is dry, the
blades whipped off by the wind, and
the shocks exposed in the fields, the
animals will select only the best por-
tions. Shredded fodder can also be
baled, like hay, and shipped any dis
tance
There has heretofore been an enor-
nous waste of material, for in the
fields. during the winter, on some
farms, may be seen shocks of corn fod-
der that have fallen over, the snow,
wind and rain destroying it, while that
which is left from destruction is leaf
less and the stalks frozen. The far
mer contents himself by hauling this
worthless fodder to the barnyard to be
manure. but he loses the fodder as a
food and as an aid to the supply Of
hay. II is not as valuable for the man.
ure heap when exposed as when cut
or shredded, for when reduced 1t alb
serbs the liquids more readily and will
also decompose sooner. AS the fodder
is equally as valuable as the grain II
properly cured and prepared, some es-
innate may be mace of the annual loss
to farmers when il is stated that the
corn crop, at 25 cents per bushel, Is
worth $500, 600, 900, and the fodder fully
as much, but more than one-half of
the fodder is wasted in the fields by
exposure. entailing a loss every year
of $3.50 900 900 II converted into milk,
butter and meat this waste material
would bring TO the farmers $5O0,O00 =
900 per annum. Such loss would not
be permitted by manufacturers, for at
the great slaughtering establishments
everything is saved and sold, even to
the hair, hoofs, blood and horns; but the
farmer, who should be economical II
he wishes to succeed, throws away one
of the most valuable products of his
farm that simply requires care in har-
vesting and storing to be utilized. More
stock can be kept when the entire corn
plant is used, and better manure for
the farm can be made by putting the
fodder under shelter or even stack
ing it in manner to prevent loss from
exposure during the winter.-Philadel-
phia Record.
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