88 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



to answer a better purpose, and to be more palatable when cut 

 early. When topped out it becomes hard, and the cattle do not 

 like it as well. It may be drilled twenty inches or two feet 

 apart, so as to leave room to pass a plow through. 



Mr. Robinson. — Or drill it four feet apart and sow turnips. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I have wintered horses upon the stalks ; once 

 in particular, as an experiment, I wintered two horses upon corn 

 stalks alone, and with a gratifying result. They were in as good 

 a condition as others wintered on dry hay. These were the 

 stalks from the field crop of corn, after husking the ears. There 

 is more nutriment in the stalk if it is cut before producing the 

 ear, and cattle eat it better. 



Dr. Waterbury. — Maize is a grass. Other grasses we cut when 

 in blow. Does the analogy hold with maize ? 



Prof. Nash was inclined to the opinion that it does; and that 

 corn should be cut for soiling when the tassels are beginning to 

 come out. 



Mr. Gale was in favor of cutting after the ear is set, but before 

 the grain is filled. Then the cob and all would be eaten. Before 

 that the corn is not sufficiently mature. He had raised an excellent 

 crop of chicken-corn, sowed broadcast in May, and cut at that 

 point, and the animals ate it eagerly. He inquired whether mil- 

 let Avonld not be better than corn, to be cut before the grain has 

 ripened. 



Mr. Robinson. — Two crops can be grown in the same season 

 for soiling. The most profitable way is to sow clover, manure it 

 thoroughly, so as to produce a heavy crop of clover, and as soon 

 as that is mown, which may be at this time, to turn the soil over 

 and put in the corn. Dressing the ground with ten bushels of 

 lime will help the growth of the corn very materially. 



Mr. Gale. — Then sow clover seed with the corn, if you please, 

 80 as to have it ready to fertilize another crop another year. I 

 would plant for soiling the corn that produces the most sugar, 

 perhaps Stowell's evergreen. The best of mowing ground should 

 'be broken up every three or four years, to convert the sod into 

 manure. 



Mr. Carpenter suggested that the Chinese sugar cane would be 

 an excellent article for soiling. 



Mr. Freeman, (from southern Illinois,) stated that he had raised 

 the sorghum, 12 feet high, the seed of which had ripened, and the 



