Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-07-07
SOW FODDER CORN.
BY c. p. Bull. Minnesota Experiment
Station.

BY c. p. Bull. Minnesota Experiment
| Station.
The hay crop in Minnesota is prob
ably less than SO per cent of normal
crop. In places it is a total failure.
This means a shortage of forage, and
in consequence, the selling of much
| live stock. This will reduce the
young breeding stock on the farm to
a deplorable extent Only those ami
mails originally intended for the block
should be disposed of, if it is pos
sible in any way to obtain feed to
carry the stock to the middle Of
August, when fodder corn can be
available.
Fodder corn is valuable forage.
It permits of early or late planting
and is harvested before the general
corn crop is mature. Large yields of
dry forage or of silage are obtained,
which for cattle, sheep, young stock
or even horses is an excellent food.
For milch COWS it is second only to
alfalfa and clover. Much could be
stated about this valuable crop, but
the purpose of this circular is merely
to advise the farmers to SOW corn
thickly for fodder; thus tiding over
the hay shortage period and save the
live stock.
Preparing the Ground.
Any piece of productive land will
grow fodder corn. The meadow, the
pasture, or even a grain field can we'll
he spared if necessary. Plow the land
about five inches deep and harrow as
fast as plowed. Work the furrow
slice back into firm condition with
! a. disc, subsurface roller (not sur
face roller) and finally a harrow. If
sod land is used, a more thorough pre-
raration will be necessary. The disc
is imperative on sod land. You must
keep the moisture in the soil. This
can he done only by proper tillage
methods.
Planting.
The seed is planted in drills about
three feet, six inches apart. From one
bushel Csc pounds) to sixty pounds
are sown per acre. When two.
horse corn planter is not to be had,
grain drill (not broadcast seeder)s
| ;cfo a. or;1v
the seed cups of the drill with piece
Of wood or tin so as to leave the open
tubes the proper distance apart for
the rows. Open the seed cups wide
and test the planting. The seeds
should be about two inches apart. If
the seed cups do not open wide
enough to permit sowing at least one
bushel per acre, re-adjust the closed
ones so as to leave two adjacent cups
drills C to inches apart) and about
~ inches, on center apart. The seeds.
in the double rows should be from
3 to inches apart, to SOW the desired
amount per acre. ~-
The Experiment Station in 1900
t planted fodder corn on July 18th and
l harvested in the fall good tonnage
of excellent fodder. The stalks grew
slender and about five feet high.
: When fed, the animals left no stubs
, OF stalks in the hangers
, Cultivation.
Harrow the land with a slant-tooth
drag the next day after planting, and
: every five or six day until the con
is an inch or so high.
, Cultivate shallow after the harrow.
! ing at least once week until the
, corn is from IS to 20 inches high. The
cultivator used should have several.
but small teeth or shove's; the "duck-
bill'' Or "eagle-claw" type. No sulky
, cultivator should be used which has
, the common shovels-three on a side
or in each gang" They are sure to
run toe deep. Two and one-half
inches is plenty deep enough. Do not
neglect this narrowing or cultivation
for the moisture must be kept in the
soil. The culture prevents surface
evaporation.
: Directions for harvesting, storing.
etc., are contained in Press Bulletin
. NO. 81, which may be had free of
charge. Write the Minnesota Expert.
lnent Station, University Farm, ST.
Paul, Minnesota.