No. 4.] HINTS FOR DAIRYMEN. 279 



should be to get corn ripe as fast as possible for feeding, 

 and feed from the ripest to be had. 



Some interesting facts in corn manuring have lately been 

 developed, among the more important of which is the espe- 

 cial benefit of independent application of potash (muriate of 

 potash) to the crop. The stover and grain both are mate- 

 rially increased in central and western Massachusetts by 

 adding potash to the farm-yard manure applied. Corn, as 

 has been previously observed, is well suited in its growth 

 habits to receive full benefit from fresh manure. The heavi- 

 est growth comes at the season of rapid nitrification. On 

 the one hand, liberal supply of plant food is received ; on 

 the other, waste of fertility is prevented by manuring corn 

 with farm-yard manure. 



Ensilage is the cheapest winter feed produced upon our 

 farms, and, while advocating a large provision of corn for 

 that purpose, we insist upon its liberal use as a supple- 

 mentary feed in the advanced pasture season. 



Barley and Peas. — Another trying season for the dairy- 

 man is after the frosts have cut the corn and before cows 

 are put upon winter feed. Pastures are short and feed 

 grows very slowly. The resort of many is to feed oft* mow- 

 ings, — a practice that does not find favor with the most 

 successful. The cost of haying is greatly increased when a 

 large area must be gone over in securing the crop. Fall 

 feeding does not compensate the shrinkage of the succeeding 

 hay crop. Hence at this season a crop not affected by early 

 frosts, growing well in cool weather and palatable to cows, 

 has a peculiar value. Barley and peas, or barley alone, may 

 be sown about the first of August, after haying is done, on 

 old land or land newly plowed, manured with the stable 

 accumulations during the summer, and put in fine tilth so 

 that a good crop of forage may be cut after frost has killed 

 corn. About two bushels of barley and a bushel or a bushel 

 and a half of peas per acre is recommended. This forage, 

 though it does not make a particularly heavy growth, is 

 clear gain. Cows eat it with great relish. It is splendid 

 feed for milk production, and bridges over one of the most 

 difficult seasons. One of the strongest advantages of the 



