106 DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 



case of this planting. The same results would not necessarily be 

 obtained on other kinds of soils or under different climatic condi- 

 tions, but the effect of thick planting on the growth of corn plants 

 would be similar in all cases. The plant is not able to reach its 

 full development by thick planting, and the yields of perfect ears 

 obtained by this method are relatively small; the total yields of 

 feed materials secured from a certain area are, however, likely to be 

 larger, the thicker the corn is planted, up to the limit investigated 

 in the trials given. Evidently, therefore, where the corn is grown 

 for green feed, for silage, or to be cured as fodder, the best method 

 is to plant thick, so that but few perfect ears are formed; con- 

 versely, if corn is grown for the sake of the grain, the general 

 method of thin planting, say in hills 3% by 3% feet, will give the 

 best results, and a relatively smaller proportion of cornstalks will 

 then be secured. 



Yields of Corn. Green fodder will yield from about 8 to 20 

 tons per acre, containing l 1 /^ to 4 tons of dry matter; an average 

 yield on good land would be about 15 tons of green forage, con- 

 taining about 3!/2 tons of dry matter. This is a considerably larger 

 yield of feed materials than can be obtained in case of most other 

 soiling crops without irrigation. 



Corn makes an excellent soiling crop in regions adapted to its 

 culture, and furnishes a large quantity of feed that is greatly relished 

 by cattle and other farm animals. If cut early, say before tasselling, 

 it will contain only about 10 per cent of dry matter, while at later 

 stages of development toward maturity it will contain 25 to 30 

 per cent of dry matter. It is largely a carbonaceous feed and is low 

 in protein (average digestible protein, 1.1 per cent; carbohydrates 

 and fat, 16.1 per cent; nutritive ratio, 1: 15.1). If fed to dairy 

 cows or young stock which require considerable protein, it should 

 be supplemented with a mixture of suitable protein feeds, like wheat 

 bran, gluten feed, oil meal, dried brewers' or distillers' grains, etc. 



Proportions of Nutrients in the Corn Plant. Even when 

 corn is grown for the sake of the grain, a considerable proportion 

 of feed materials remains in the stalks and becomes available for 

 feeding farm animals. The proportion of ears to stover has been 

 determined by a number of experiment stations. The average results 

 obtained at four different stations (New Jersey, Connecticut, Penn- 

 sylvania, and Wisconsin), are as follows: 2 



2 Pennsylvania Report, 1887. 



