Soiling Crops 143 



Within the last few years the introduction of ma- 

 chines for the special purpose of harvesting stand- 

 ing corn and ensilage fodder has placed in the 

 hands of the dairyman a most valuable and labor- 

 saving device, which can be heartily recommended 

 to any one soiling their cattle, when the number of 

 animals soiled will warrant the outlay. 



There is a variety of fodder used in the West that, 

 from its description, should make a valuable variety 

 of soiling, i.e., the Pearl Flint variety. It is said to 

 set from three to six ears to stalk, with medium 

 growth stalk. Sow from one to one and one-half 

 bushels per acre. It should be sown thicker than 

 for ensilage. 



The most convenient way of planting is with a 

 grain drill rigged to drop a kernel every four to 

 six inches, and in rows from twenty-eight to thirty- 

 five inches apart. That is, providing the drills of 

 the seeder are the usual width, that is, seven 

 inches. If eight inches, the rows should be twenty- 

 seven or thirty-two inches apart. If a drill is not 

 geared to drop the required number by allowing 

 one tube to run, two or three feeds can be run into 

 one of the cast shoes by simply taking the rub- 

 ber tubes from their respective shoes, and letting 

 them discharge into one shoe or drill. An eleven- 

 hoed drill is the most convenient for this purpose, 

 and usually the proper gearing can be had to sow 

 the desired amount from the discharge of single 

 tubes. In an eleven-hoed drill, let Nos. 2, 6, and 10 

 drills discharge. This will plant three rows at a 



