156 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



As soon as the weather is fairly warm, it will be time to 

 plant some variety of corn for feeding after the spring 

 grains. It has been my practice for many years to grow 

 corn specially for fodder, planting either sweet-corn or some 

 of the large Southern or Western dent varieties. I have, 

 early in spring, sown Western corn broadcast at the rate of 

 eight bushels or more per acre, and mowed the fodder when 

 but a few feet high, or long before it showed signs of bloom- 

 ing. I have planted it in drills at the rate of forty kernels 

 per foot, and also quite thinly, so it could attain nearly its 

 natural size. I have also planted sweet-corn both thickly 

 and sparingly, but am beginning to doubt if there is any 

 thing more profitably grown in the fodder-corn line than a 

 vigorous growing variety of ordinary field-corn, planted on 

 rich land as thickly as it will produce good ears. I found 

 my field-corn producing this year at the rate of fourteen 

 tons of fodder per acre (weighed after the stalks had become 

 considerably dry, and the ears ripe enough to husk for seed) ; 

 while the same variety planted thickly, though weighing 

 while very green two tons per acre more, was lodged badly, 

 and the bottom considerably injured by rotting. When the 

 field-corn was at its heaviest (the ears just beginning to 

 glaze), a given area produced a much heavier crop than did 

 the fodder-corn, and, fed with the ears on, was more relished 

 by the cattle. Corn grown by field-culture thinly enough to 

 produce ears is longer in fit condition to feed than if grown 

 very thickly ; while if there is a surplus, as there always 

 should be to insure against drought, the remainder left 

 over after the season of green feeding is past will be much 

 more easily cured, as well as more valuable for winter 

 storage. Until I find cause for changing my mind, I shall 

 in future plant no corn specially for fodder in any of the 

 popular ways, either broadcast or thickly in drills, but will 

 plant for a full crop of ears, and not hesitate to cut it when 

 it is most needed. I believe an acre of field-corn can never 

 produce more flesh, milk, or butter, than if cut when the 

 kernels are just passing the milk stage, and beginning to 

 glaze. 



The crop next to receive attention after corn is millet. 

 This is one of the most valuable forage crops a New- 

 England farmer can grow. It is as good as ordinary English 



