340 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



It is supposed by some who have little experience in the matter 

 that green corn fodder lessens the flow of milk and reduces the 

 quantity of butter. To this opinion I am able to oppose my own 

 experience of the past summer (1869) in the management of a 

 herd of Jersey cows. The quantity of milk was not definitely 

 ascertained, but it was easy to see that the corn increased the 

 flow much more than any other feed. During the months of 

 June and July, the weekly average of butter was 44yoV l^s., 

 — the animals being copiously supplied with the best of clover, 

 and with green oats. During August and September, when we 

 fed, practically, nothing except green corn fodder, the average 

 per week was S7 i%\ ^^s. of butter, of even a finer quality and a 

 better flavor. 



But few farmers, even of those who are in the yearly habit of 

 planting a little sowed corn, know what the crop is capable of. 

 They usually prepare a small corner of a field on which they sow 

 the seed broadcast, and harrow it in. For want of air and light, 

 and from the compactness of the surface, the growth has a pale 

 and sickly look, and the produce is very much less than it should 

 be. 



The land intended for this use should be the richest and best 

 prepare.d on the whole farm, and the seed should be put in in 

 drills at least three feet apart, so that they may be thoroughly 

 worked out with the cultivator, or horse-hoe, at least three tinies 

 during the early growth, and so that there may be an abundant 

 circulation of air, as well as a free access of light. It is a common 

 mistake, when the corn is planted in drills, to put in so little seed 

 that the stalks grow so large and strong that they will be 

 rejected by the cattle, only the leaves being consumed. There 

 should be at least forty grains to the foot of row. This will take 

 from four bushels to six bushels of seed to the acre, but the result 

 will fully justify the outlay, as the corn standing so close in the' 

 row will grow fine and thick, and when it is fed out the whole 

 stalk will be consumed. 



The variety planted is important. The hard, Northern varie- 

 ties of corn, wh'ich do not produce a luxuriant growth of stalk and 



