Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-03-26

Quack grass is not difficult 10 man
age; but, like some other things, good
in themselves, it becomes hateful when
mismanaged. 1t may be made exceed
er grasses thought 10 be indispensable
to US, says a correspondent of Rural
New Yorker. Its persistent growth and
fast hold upon the ground should make
it one of the most highly valued of all
the grasses. ! cultivated it in New Jer-
sey in a field of several Scres of which
it had taken entire possession, giving it
liberal supplies of fertilizer and
spring narrowing with a heavy, sharp
toothed harrow to loosen the soil, using
it as green feed for my COWS as we'll
as for hay. l one year sowed clover
seed with this quack grass after thor
Ough narrowing of the surface, and the
yield was over two tons to the acre of
the best hay. After four years of use
in this way, the clover having run out,
the land was plowed to a sufficient
depth to expose the mat of roots, which
was very thick, occupying most of the
soil. l dug out one square foot of the
sod a foot deep, and after shaking off
the soil as much as possible the roots
and grass weighed four pounds and one
ounce, equivalent to about eighty tons
of ordinary manure per acre. The land
was put into corn, and after a few
borrowings at intervals of two days
the roots We're dead by exposure to the
sun and dry weather, so that there was
very little trouble in working the corn.
Then sugar beets and mangels were
grown ON part of the land and potatoes
on the rest, wheat following, after
which it was seeded to grass and clio
yer. If l could have got the seed of the
quack grass, / should certainly have
sown that in preference to any other.
As to the effects of this grass on the
milk, my wife, after two or three
Cummings from the green quack grass,
asked what l was giving the cows, as
the butter had increased so much
Food For Cows.
they should be fed enough to keep
them in thrifty condition without
their becoming too fat. Bran, roots,
clover hay, cornstalks, etc, make
a most suitable variety of food. The
aim at this period should be to feed
nonstimulating foods and only that
which has cooling and laxative effect
CHI
be fed heavy food just before dropping
her calf. Heavy food at such a time,
especially foodstuff of a carbonaceous
or heating nature, is a very injurious
food to be given and may cause in
fiammation or garget in the udder. 1t
is important, however, that during this
period the COW should be well fed.
Feeding Value of Rape.
Rape has a high feeding value. 1t
makes an excellent feed for fattening
sheep and swine and for producing an
abundant flow of milk in milk COWS.
On account of danger of tainting the
milk many people do not feed it to the
cows until after milking. Rape can
be used to good advantage as a part
ing fed in pens for market or for the
show ring. BY beginning as early as
practicable in the spring and seeding
at intervals of two or three weeks
continuous succession of rape can be
produced throughout the period when
the permanent pastures are most like
ly to be short Rape will endure quite
severe cold weather and thus will last
a long time after the ordinary pasture
grasses succumb to the frost. By the
use of this crop stock can be got
into good condition for the holiday
markets OF for winter. and there need
to be no check in growth, fat and milk
production through insufficient suecu-
lent food during the late summer and
autumn months. as is too frequently
the case.
A Large SiIO.
The silo is popular with stockmen
and farmers in South Dakota. Here is
a raiof,tra af Tho Iarrncf cil0 in flQ state