Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-11-20
FARMERANDP PLANTER.
SAVING CORN FODDER.
Wanton Waste of Fodder ON
Southern Farms.

In view of the wanton waste of fod-
der in various parts of the country, l
will submit my method of providing
a fine supply of bright fodder in my
feed lots for busy days or bad wealth
err. 1t is estimated that 81 per cent.
or over one-third of the nutritiye
value of the corn plant lies in the
fodder. Enormous quantities go TO
waste each year-a large per cent
d~eteriorates greatly by being left
out in the field through winter for
spring feeding. Why this? We do not
leave other feeds out in shocks over
winter and why not take better care
of that valuable feed-the fodder? l
bind it with Irvine in bundles OF
about an armful each, haul to the
feed lot and rick, or fill all empty
shed room. This is done as early as
is expedient-before bad weather and
before the fodder is discolored. L
have been rieking fodder for about
seven years and have ricked 1t OH OF
as many as eighty acres a season II
always kept nice and bright when
ricked. BY hauling the fodder out III
the fall, the ground is firm and you
can haul large loads and not cut up
the wheat, etc. Rick in the feed lot
fence it and build cheap troughs or
racks around it so that in bad wealth
er or on busy days it will not be nee
essary to hitch up the team-Just
throw over the bundles. When shuck-
ing | have the hands lay the fodder
on the ground temporarily, in COM
pact piles, straight and even. lhey
should be narrow and well pressed
down to shed water should 1t ram be-
fore being bound and ricked. The
shuckers can shuck for one to TWO
cents less per shock in this way py
being saved the standing and tying
of fodder. This ought to cover the
expense of binding. The binder,
armed with a pocket knife n ball
of Irvine, gathers up an armful OF Tod
der, passes the Irvine around, having
previously tied a loop on the tag OF
inner end of Irvine and ties in a loop
knot. The Irvine is next put in upper
end of loop, the other end drawn out
of the knot, frightened. When one
gets the hang of it the binding can
be done very rapidly. When bound,
YOU have a bundle that can be ham
died practically as easily as one OF
grain-one that can be easily rlcked.
They NAV o be piled as before,
provided it is to be ricked IN a lew
DAYS. otherwise shock al d tie 1t. Dew
and light rains + a benefit IN ham
ding fodder. as it softens and pre-
vents breaking of blades. Shucktrs
NAV be provided with Irvine and be
required to do the binding. Shocks
sixteen hills square make seven or
eight bundles, and a ball of twlne VIII
bind eighty to 100 shocks.
The modus operandi of ricking is
very much as that of grain. Keep the
middle a great deal the highest so
that when the stack has settled the
stalk will slant so as to turn the wa
ter. Place inside courses lengthwlse
of rick. outside courses crosswlse
with ~tassels towards the center. ex-
cept the top course, which reverse SO
as to better form a roof. Always
build firm, pressing each bundle up
close to the preceding. l build the
ricks 20x50 and sixteen feet hlgh,
which contains about 200 shocks. Fol-
convenience in feeding l recommend
building in two or three sections SO
that as little surface be exposed as
possible when feeding. Top courses
should be even on top, have a good
slant and pressed tightly together
E. w. Jones, in Epitomist.