The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-30

not fall out with DR.. Hunnicutt, nor
with corn stover. I have not stripped
fodder since beginning to make stow
er. and have fed my stock straight
through from October till spring or
oat time on stover for roughage. l
am not fool enough to say that I think
1t equal to either good sweet corn fod-
der or peavine hay, or that stock will
eat it all such as have made. If
can get them to eat from SO to rs
per cent. am satisfied. 1 am con-
fident that with a better machine, I
use a Mccormick, that a better stover
can be made than I make, thereby in
creasing the feeding efficiency. I put
up some last year that smelled as
sweet as fodder and have a good pile
on hand now, and will begin to shred
in about two weeks.
Now for some Of the reasons why I
believe some people don't like it, and
the difficulties in the way of making
a good article. Lets get little near
er home, and leave out the thought
that the nearness to the Southern sea-
board has anything to do with it.
1st. Corn should not be cut for
stover till practically all the shuck has
dried on the outside. Say 10 to IL
days later than good fodder stripping
time. By this time the fodder has
dried practically up to the ear. Wait
ing this long though insures the corn
being harder, and nearly all the late
stalks will be in condition. By this
time all the feeding roots are dead
and the corn If cut and the butt we'll
touching the ground moisture will
continue to rise about as we'll, to help
such ears as need it.
End. Mouldy corn is caused by
there being some late stalks, caused
by replanted corn. or moist spots in
the field. When commenced to cut
1 would leave out these stalks, and
go back and get them afterwards, or
Intended to do so. Finding this did
not work out so we'll, I now. cut ev-
erything and expect to have a little
corn not in good condition, but these
few ears. do not have any effect on
the good ones in the shock. I think
If those who find so much complaint
on account Of bad corn could think
back, they would remember finding
bad corn every year. I left some rows
standing this year for comparison in
yield and found rotten corn in that.
3rd. The main reason for bad corn
or mouldy corn in shocked corn is be-
cause 1t is not properly put up. had
never seen shock before I made one,
and am not very great expert vet.
a great many did ii one year and
quit. The farmer nor his hands did
1t right Ny experience has been that
by the time / could get set Of hands
to know how, they would leave me
and next year would have a new set.
shock must be built up evenly, all
round and must not be twisted in the
tying, and should be retied in about
six or ten days. 1 had shocks and
others about here that stood the
storm Of last week. When properly
set up they will stand and 200 stalks
is not too much for one. If twisted
and not we'll tied they will go down
and then trouble starts I admit.
Shredding should be done in about six
weeks, but good shocks will stand till
Christmas, and a surprisingly small
amount of damage done to the fodder.
no more than to a good stack of hay.
AS to corn being so that it can be told
In the dark that is nonsense. 1 have
corn shocked in the field now. Bring
a bushel of yours, and We will go to
the field and break out a bushel and
see what We see. If a man puts up a
shock that looks like an old press
screw, and rain gets in that's his fault.
Or little shocks that fall down, that's
his fault again.
Now figure that 1 can get my corn
shocked, shredded, corn in barn and
stover in loft as cheap as 1 can strip
fodder and break corn after the usual
style, or break corn and get rid of
stalks afterwards. l get more edible
roughage and a lot of the best stable
bedding the part not eaten. If you
want to cut vines in corn field you
can get at it sooner and no stalks in
the way. If you want to plant oats in
haul corn out afterwards.
We must plant corn thicker to get
perfect stand and cut out replant-
ing, then it will all ripen at once. In