THE STALK CROP. 181 



gain equal to much more than this. " It has been 

 proved," says the Working Farmer, " that nineteen 

 pounds of hay, cut one inch long, will take the place 

 of twenty-five pounds of uncut hay ; and it is equally 

 true that if the hay be cut one quarter of an inch or 

 less in length, the same relative proportion will an- 

 swer the purpose. It is claimed by some that thirteen 

 pounds of chaffed hay is equal to nineteen pounds 

 one inch long, or twenty-five pounds in the natural 

 state. All these facts are equally applicable to corn- 

 stalks." 



They are, indeed, even more applicable to stalks 

 than either to hay or straw, as is evident from the 

 nature of the case. Every consideration in favor of 

 cutting hay becomes a much stronger argument when 

 applied to corn-fodder. 



Without insisting on all the gain in value claimed 

 by the journal above quoted, if we assume even the 

 half of that increase, taking thirteen pounds of hay 

 or stalks finely chaffed as equal to nineteen pounds 

 uncut, this will still show a gain of forty-six per cent., 

 which corresponds with the experience of many farm- 

 ers, and is rendered entirely probable by the researches 

 of chemistry. 



But in order to adopt an estimate that may be 

 generally and certainly realized, let us put the ratio 

 lower still. It is certainly a reasonable presumption, 

 that on a general average the increase in the value 

 of this stover, by chaffing it finely, will be found not 

 less than forty per cent. ; and that when it is steamed 

 or thoroughly soaked after cutting, the whole gain 



