The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-07-07
PLANT FODDER CORN
How to Prepare the Soil, Plant,
Care For, Harvest and
Store Fodder Corn.

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Store Fodder Corn.
Farmers, This is of Interest to You
--Read it Carefully--Provide
for Your Live Stock.
The following circular has been pre-
pared under direction of the state de-
partment of agriculture and is issued
as press bulletin No. 81:
FODDER CORN.
Owing to the unprecedented drought,
the hay crop in Minnesota is proba-
bly, less than SO per cent Of normal
crop. In places it is total failure
and the farmers are not attempting to
cut their meadows. This means
shortage of forage and, in conse-
quence, the selling of much live stock.
This will reduce the amount Of live
stock, especially the young breeding
stock, on farm to a deplorable ex-
tent. Every effort should be made to
keep all breeding stock, both young
and old: only those animals origi-
nally intended for the block should be
disposed Of, If in any way feed or
forage can be secured to sustain them
until August 18th, when fodder corn
will be available.
Several years ago the Experimental
Station issued press bulletin, when
there was a shortage of hay, urging
the farmers to plant fodder corn.
From many districts reports we're
favorable to the advice of the bulle-
tin, which saved much live stock and
helped to control the undue advance
of the prices of hay. Under circum-
stances very similar to those of 1900,
We feel that a word to the farmers
may again help to tide over the diff
Guilty.
Fodder corn, next to clover and
alfalfa hay, is the most valuable
forage to be grown on the farm. It
permits of early or late planting and
is harvested before the general corn
crop is mature. Large yields of dry
forage 81 tons) or of silage 1920
tons) are obtained, which for cattle,
sheep, young stock or even horses is
an excellent feed. For mich COWS it
is second only to alfalfa and clover.
Much could be stated about this valu-
able 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 fertile land will grow
the fodder. If no other land is avail
able for the purpose, the meadow or
pasture can we'll be spared. In some
instances grain may we'll be cut for
hay and the ground plowed, prepared
and planted to fodder cord.
Plow the land about five inches
deep and harrow as fast as plowed.
Work the furrow slice back into a
firm condition again with disc, a
sub-surface roller mot surface
roller), and finally harrow. This
is necessary to prevent the rapid dry
ing out Of the furrow slice.
If sod land is used a more thorough
preparation will be necessary, for the
stubble will act as barrier between
the subsoil and furrow slice against
the free capillary movement of the
moisture upward to the seed bed.
You must keep the moisture in the
soil. This can only be done by
proper tillage methods. In this con-
nection the disc is imperative on sod
land.
In the event that blowing up pasture
or meadow lands will make shortage
of either of these crops no fear need
be exercised, for fall rye or even
spring grains can be sown on the land
to be used for spring pasturage or for
hay until another seeding is estab-
lished. In short the effort should be
made to keep the live stock.
PLANTING.
The seed is planted in drill rows
about three feet six inches apart.
From one bushel (ffty-six pounds to
sixty pounds) are sown per acre.
When a two-horse corn planter is not
to be had grain drill mot a broad.
cast seeder) will do the work salts.
factorily. Cover the seed cups of the
drill with piece of wood or tin so as
to leave the open tubes the proper dis.
lance 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 of sowing at
least one bushel per acre, readjust the