The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1921-04-29
STATE FARMERS
FAVOR CORN AND
SORGHUM IN SILO
GROWING IN FAVOR BECAUSE OF
THE HIGH YIELDS THAT CAN
BE OBTAINED.
PLANTING OF CORN SILAGE
Should Be Grown, AS Near the SIo
AS Possible to Avoid the Expense of
Hauling From the Fields-Should
Use Cover Crops. ...
CFrom Mondays Daily Herald. }

(FrOm Mondays Daily Herald.)
Corn and sorghum planted in the
same row for silage is rapidly growing
in favor among dairymen and stock
men of Tennessee because Of the high
yields which are obtained from this
combination, according to j. G. Nc
Amis agronomist, division of extern
sion, University of Tennessee.
Mr.. McAmis suggests that corn be
planted about one-fOurth thicker than
ordinarily for grain and add to 4
pounds Of sorghum per acre. Some
men prefer to plant corn first and then
follow Immediately with the sorghum
using the proper plate in the planter.
Others carry with them the unmiXed
sorghum seed, and at regular inter
walls pour little over the corn in the
the seed box 1t will gradually sift
down through the seed corn and with
little experience, careful man can
obtain a uniform planting of both, at
one operation. Another method is to
mix the sorghum seed with the fertil.
iZer.
Al0ermarle Prolific corn is a favor
ite variety. Honey sorghum is heay-
Ter yielder and is least likely to lodge
on rich soils. Red top is best for
planting with early varieties of corn.
peck to the acre of soy beans, cow
peas or velvet beans has been tried in
the silage mixture in the hope of i'm
proving the quality of silage. Usually
the difficulty OF harvesting has been
increased without sufficient improve
ment in the quality or quantity of the
silage. Cowpeaa or velvet beans will
pull down the corn on rich land. 1t is
much better practice to use the le-
evmes as hay. Aim first Of all to get
heavy yields to the acre, but grow the
Kind of crops that are easily harvest
ed that will pack close and keep well.
Carefully estimate the number Of
acres Of your silage crop that you will
need to fill your silo. Plant enough
hut not too much. Amy surplus will be
difficult to handle except as s-lage If
you let it mature for ear corn, the
yield VIII be reduced from thick plant:
ing Your needs will be difficult to
estimate accurately, because the yield
VIII be determined somewhat by the
season and other things. Generally
Land which will produce twenty dvc
bushels Of corn to the acre viii pro
duce five to eight tons Of silage fifty
bushels of corn, Ten to twelve tons Of
siiage, etc.
Because Of tho labor of hauling from
cat lying fields, it is best to set aside
one or two fields near the s!lo an
crop them intensiyely. If the land IS
fertile at the outset, and if it is kept
well manured a silage crop may be
grown every year for while. II
should be followed by cover crop OF
rye and crimson clover or wheat and
yctch. Usually a close rotation with
silage every other year will be best
The follow ng rotations are suggested.
Select the on which fits your soils
best:
For poor soils-First year: Com
and sorghum (summerl, followed by
winter grains falN. Second yea:
Soy bean hay (summer), followed by
wheat and vetch hay fa!D.
Fer rich soils-First year: clover
cut for hay (summer), followed by
corn and sorghum, followed by winter
Grains and red clover tfalD. Second
year: Winter grain harvested Csum-
mer), clover cut for hay (fall)
Flant your silage crop in May or
early June. Don't make your planting
so late that the crop Will not mature
sufficiently. Crops that are too green
produce inferior sialge Corn should
be almost ripe enough to shock for
grain when it is cut for silage.