Gunnison news-champion., 1919-04-25
FURTHER DISCUSSION OF
SUNFLOWERS FOR SILAGE
Continuation Of Bulletin by c. 5. Ray,
State Agricultural College.
Continued from last week

L1eL Ncrk
Cultiy alton
Cultivation Of sunfo~ers is much
the same as cultivation for com The
fields should be kept free from weeds
at all times. This will usually mean
4 cultivation soon after the crop Is up
and cultivation every week OF two
from then until the plants are 3 10
feet high. Shallow rather than deep
cultivation is preferable The COM
mon corn cultivating machinery can
be used for sunfiowers-
Irrigation
The amount Of irrigation water
needed by sunfiowers and the time of
applying il will depend entirely upon
local conditions. Sometimes il is
necessary TO irrgaIe the seed up and
again water may not be needed until
two or three weeks after planting.
Most growers are Of the opinion that
sQntlowers do not need as much water
as does corn grown for silage. This
is just a prevailing opinon, however,
and no work has been done TO deter
mine the best amount Of water for
sunfiowers or the best time TO apply
il.
The best time for harvesting sun
flowers for silage is a matter of some
uncertainty. The Montana Station
recommends cutting when one-half to
three-f0urths of the seed are in the
milk stage, stating that il cut befor,
that time the stalks are quite watery
and considerable loss will occur
The Nevada Station recommends cut
. asHEa fh. a.as..Na ~. ka f...z
mill stage. Both Of these Stations
have obtained excellent results from
DAIRY cows fed on silage cut at thest
stages One dairy-man in western
Colorado, who has fed sunflower sill.
age FOR four seasons, claims, however
E that II the plants are left standing un.
I'll after the pollen falls. resinous
flavor deyelopes in the plants and i,
noticeable in milk when such silage i:
fed 10 dairy COWS. Obviously, wher,
the si!agc Is to be fed TO sheep, or beef
cattle this factor would not enter anc
the suuiiower could be left in the field
until the milk stage. II is quite prob.
ably that the feeding value of the sill.
age VIII increase as the plants deyelot
toward maturity and hence would be
most valuable at the late milk stage
The corn binder is quite generally
used for harvesting the sunfiowers
Where the area is small they may be
cut with a corn knife or a sharp hoe
In making silage sunfiower plants
should be cut into lengths Of from y
to 3-i Of an inch. II is essential tina,
the plants be cut into very small
pieces, that they be very well packed
IN the slo. No water need be applied
unless the plants have become very
ripe, for ordinarily the plants contain
sufficient water TO insure good pack
ing. Any good corn silage cutter ca,
be used for cutting sunflowers.
Where cut when the sunflowers hav,
not yet reached the blossom stage
sunflower silage contains a great dea
of water. Such silage is apt TO Civ,
some trouble due TO freezing in tn
silo. This trouble is not experiences
when the sunfiowes are cut when il
the milk sage.
Growing Seed
/ Some farmers are growing thei
own sunflower seed. When raise,
for seed, the planting should be don,
very early in the season to insure ma
I turity. Twelve to fifteen inches i
/ the best distance between plants il
the rows when seed producing is de
sired. When the seed is mature. tn,
heads should be cut and hung up I.
dry in well-ventilated place. II tn,
sunflower heads are piled before be
ing thoroly dried, they will moult
badly and this will injure the vitalit,
of the seed.
THE Price of Peace
I