The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-05-04
WHAT CORN SHOULD BE
GROWN IN NORTHWEST
(By Prof. Thomas Shaw

(By Prof. Thomas Shawl
In the Northwestern States corn
should be grown for three distinct
uses. The first is to provide fodder
for live stock in winter, and more es
pecially in the form Of ensillage.
The second is to be hogged off by
swine Or eaten down by sheep, and
the third is to provide what may be
termed pasture. These are relatively
important in the order named.
Eor the first use mentioned, the
corn should be possessed OF consid-
cradle bulk Uuless the grower can
obtain not less than six tons OF green
food per acre, it will not pay him to
grow corn for such ause. Ordinarily
he should look for not less than s
tons, il such kinds as the North
western Dent, Minnesota No. 10, and
Mercer Flint are grown. In some
instances as much as 10 to IL tons
will be produced. While it is neces-
sary to have considerable bulk when
growing these varieties, it is not alb
soiutely necessary to have them ma
ture. This OF course is desira BILE
where such result can be reached,
but they will make fairly good fod-
der and also good ensillage though
harvested short of maturity. But
when such corn is put into the silo,
it should first be allowed to lose
some of it's moisture after it is cut
before putting into the same. Such
corn is not easily cured under north
western conditions in the stack or
even in the shock in many instances.
hence the aim Of the growers should
be TO cure it in the silo.
For the second use mentioned it is
essential that the grain shall ma
ture. TO secure this enc some small
er and earlier maturing variety or
varieties may be grown. Those found
b estadapted To this purpose in the
past are the squaW corn, otherwise
known as the Dakota, planted in
se&aon and given proper care, should
virtually mature almost amy year in
almost any part OF the northwest
furnish usually from 20 to 40 BUSH
els 10 the acre, with an average OF
say - 10 30 bushels
Corn thus logged of, will give
ESQ pounds OF pork from an acre.
II, alter it is ho&ged Off, the stalks
arc }et, they Will hold the SHOW,
which will NEAL more moisture to
the land. The crop Of grain that foi-
lows Wtll be much better than that
| Obtained rom srain stuDble lan,.
similar IN character
When gra2ed oil by sheep and
lambs the grazing should begin as
| COON as The corn is ripe. 1t may be-
1 gin before it is hard. But care
Should be taken 10 introduce the
sheep to it gradually lest they
should eat 10 excess Of food toe
strong for so sudden achange, They
VIII cat 10 excess Of q food toe
strong for so sudden a change. They
viii eat both the leaves and the
stalk iii addition to the corn. TINS
method OF fattening both sheep anC
swine VIII be found effective and rel
&tivoly cheap, because OF the great
saving OF labor. Six or seven weeks
o such feeding should suffice to fat
tea swine and eight or ten weeks
TO tatt9,. sheep and lambs. la eth
or case il is important to have The
feeding completed before the fal
rains come heavily. Such corr
should be ready not later than tn,
middie o. August, Some seasons tht
rams may give trouble, but tins
would not occur very often i'll The
northwestern states
In very dry areas it may he wise
TO plant corn OF the varieties allow
mentioned en- land that would 9th
oTWlse be bare faiiOW Such corr
may or man not produce ears, blu
under very dry conditions it will pro
Guce fair growth Of stalk il givel
proper cultivation, even though i
should not produce ears it will pro
duCe 4 fair amount OF stalk, ant
therefore a fair amount Of food. Thi
may be used to provide pasture Whel
it could not be SO we'll obtaine,
from any other source. Such graz
ing, in those dry areas would not III
juro the Iand for the winter whea
that VIII be usually soWn undo
aese conditions Oh such land. TIL
whole operation viii have a helpful
rather than harmful influence OF
such land