Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-10-17
Green Barley for Dairy Feeding.

FALL MONTHS NOT FAVORABLE TO
SEED GERMINATIoN-MR. CLAPP's
METHoD-wASTEFUL TO PLow IN
FOOD CRoP-vARIETY-wIN RYE
AND BARLEY.
1t was nearly 30 years ago that my
was first called to the value
of barley as green crop for feeding
dairy cows in the late fall. l first saw
it growing on the farm of our old cor
respondent, Ansel Putnam of Danvers,
Mass. Mr.. Putnam had grown it but a
few years, but he valued it so highly
that he invited me down to see his crops
as they were growing in September and
October. | was SO well pleased with the
appearance of the barley that l i'm
mediately adopted the practice of rails
ing it annually as long as had COWS to
feed. Since that time great many
New England farmers have given the
crop more or less attention, sometimes
with favorable results and sometimes
otherwise. The fall months are not al
ways favorable to the termination Of
the seed or the rapid growth of the crop.
But as the barley comes at time when
other green crops are mostly past, it is
worth while to take a little risk on
account of the weather. The seed
should be sown in July or early in
August if full crop is expected, but in
southern New England a fair crop can
be grown in a good season somewhat
later.
| have always been careful not to
encourage too great expectations with
late crops in northern New England for
realize that there is considerable differ
ence in the length of the growing season
in the different localities. l was, there
fore, rather surprised recently to receive
a letter from Mr.. w. j. Clapp of Barre,
VT, in which he stated that during July
he had been plowing ten acres of sod
land from which he had taken crop of
hay. He was going to apply 20 loads
Of good stable manure to the acre and
sow three bushels of barley per acre as
fast as he could get the land in proper
condition by repeated narrowing and
The latest sowing was on
the 4th of September, at which time that
first sown was eight or ten inches high.
Cutting and feeding will begin when the
growth is large enough to be worth
cutting and will continue till we'll into
November. Mr.. Clapp has practiced
this course for several years and is we'll
pleased with results in feeding his 30
iairy cows and other young stock, but
be has sometimes wondered whether
taking off such crop did not draw on
The manure applied to the injury of the
corn crop which occupies the land the
following year, and be wished my
opinion in the case. All crops when
removed take something from the soil,
but in this, as in ether cases, we can
afford TO stand the loss as it is more than
made up in value returned in the crop.
think the chances are that the corn
crop will be larger than if planted on
inverted sod that had received a less
thorough working the previous fall.
The barley might be left as cover crop
on the land through the winter. 1t
would prevent the soil from being wash
ed or blown away, but the stubble and
roots of the crop will usually be sutfi-
cient for this purpose. II cared only
for cover crop would SOW some kind
of legume that would add little nitro
gen to the soil from the air. Other
crops return only what they have taken
from the soil.
On dairy or stock farm 1T seems
wasteful to plow in any crop that can
be used as food. By feeding to good
animals we get double profit from the
food. II butter or fat animals are the
principal products sold, the land should
grow richer from year to year under a
good system of cultivation. like Mr..
Clapp's methods we'll and advise their
till he can learn of better.
| like the plan of drawing out the ma
nure in summer and working it well
into the soil for the succeeding corn
crop. The land will be so mellow in
spring that disc harrow drawn by a
good team will fit the land without an
other plowing. As there will be no
waiting to draw the manure, the harrow
ing and cultivation can go on at inter
walls of few days till time to put in the
corn. Most of the weeds will be sprout-
ed and destroyed by this time and thus
save labor in after cultivation.
MANY farmers have more leisure for
blowing sod after haying than in early
spring. The teams are also in better
condition for hard work than just after a
winter of comparative idleness. In
growing barley as sOiling crop one
should procure variety that will pro
duce a large growth of fodder. In buy
ing seed in market one is not sure what
will be furnished 4; for this reason would
advise growing ones own seed when a
good kind is obtained. The tall, two
rowed variety is better than the shorter,
four-rowed, though it might not pro-
duce as much grain. OF course, the
seed must be raised from spring sowing.
Barley has an advantage over oats Tor
late crop as il is less subject to blight
and rust. Some are recommending the
sowing of peas with the barley as this
crop is not injured by considerable frost.
have had excellent results from winter
rye and barley mixed for late feeding.
Sown in August, three bushels to the
acre, heavy growth may be obtained
for October and November feeding.
The barley making stems helps hold up
the long leaves of rye and prevents
smothering of the crop. One should
never be afraid of exhausting the fertili-
ty of soil so long as good use is made
of the crops taken off. l think 1t might
be well to apply little commercial fer
tilizer to the land when the corn is
planted, but that must be a matter fol
the Judgment of the owner. One should
try for full crops every time.-A. W.
Cheever in New England Farmer.