THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



this world's affairs, and these terms are mainly 

 used to soothe a conscience troubled with a sense 

 of its own recklessness, negligence or indolence. 



IKDIAK COKN FOR FODDER. 



t'tom the New Genesee Farmer, 



The cultivation of Indian corn for /odder mo}' 

 be well recommended to the I'arrners, especially 

 where pasturage is deficient, or in a season when 

 the crop of hay is hkely to be small. Among the 

 farmers who supply the cities with railk, it'^is a 

 lavoriie crop, and is given to their cows at night 

 and morning to assist a short pasture. In such 

 cases it is eowed at successive seasons, every 

 week or fortnight, so that the crop may be coming 

 on as needed. It is sometimes cut when it is knee*^ 

 high, and then in general it will start a second 

 tuue, so that another cutting may be obtained. 

 This should not, hawever, be confidently relied 

 upon. Where it is wanted for green feed, it is of 

 course advisable not to cut it until the plant is in 

 perlectiou ; we do not mean until the seed is 

 ripened, but until the leaves and stems are 

 as abundant and large as they are likely to be • 

 that is when the flower is protruded, and the ear 

 formed, and yet no part of the plant has become 

 too hard to be completely eaten up by the cattle. 

 Jbvery farmer, therefore, may make his calcula- 

 tion as to the time of planting. The earlier he 

 plants, the sooner he will have the fodder and the 

 more of it to give to his stock ; and by plantino- at 

 successive times according to his convenience*^ he 

 may keep up a supply of succulent food to 'the 

 very end of the season. None need be lost • ai^d 

 every leaf Fnd stem of it should be saved, 'even 

 after the frost has killed it. 



We have seen the plant cultivated to great ad- 

 vantage for soiling cows ; in many instances: in 

 one where twenty cows were kept ; in another 

 where a hundred cows were soiled. In the latter 

 case several acres were sown with corn for this 

 purpose ; and it was cut and brought into the barn 

 as wanted. There was no feed of which the stock 

 were more fond ; none which produced more milk: 

 and none obtained at a less expense. It was all cut 

 short by a machine, and while gathered green 

 every particle of it was consumed. When in the 

 autumn it became dry it was steamed for the stock. 

 AnK)ng the milk farmers, near the cities, its culti- 

 vation is constantly increasing. 



We have known it likewise^rauch used for store 

 hogs. Where pasturage is deficient, or where 

 hey are kept in sties, no green Ibod is more re- 

 lisJied by them or more conducive to their thrift 

 In this case, however, it is of course given to them 

 in a green and succulent state. 



We have not known it cultivated extensively for 

 winter fodder but there is no reason why it should 

 not be. In this case it would be desirable to sow 

 It early, if we would have the largest crop, and 

 let It come to what maturity it will. The value of 

 wel cured corn fodder for slock is settled The 

 cattle have determined the question long a.:ro by 

 the relish with which they eat it; and the° good 

 condition in which it keeps them. The amou^u ol 

 well dried corn Ibdder, including butts as well as 

 tops, where the crop is fifty bushels, is generally 

 esamate^ at two tons ; this cf the EmaH yellow 

 Vol. X.— 15 



flint variety of corn ; the southern gourd seed vari- 

 ety and the western corn produce a much laroer 

 amount. Farmers in general are disposed to es'ti- 

 mate the fodder upon such an acre of corn, well 

 saved, as equal, for any neat slock, to one ton of 

 English hay. Some place it at one and a half ton : 

 none lower than three fourths of a ton. 



The only instance which has come within our 

 knowledge, of ascertaining with any exactness the 

 actual amount of fodder or stover upon an acre, 

 was in Pennsylvania, where we infer the gourd 

 seed variety was cultivated, and where the crop 

 amounted to 66 bushels. In this case. 



nri LI , . , , Tons. cwt. Ibs. 

 Ine blades, husks and tops, when 



cured, amounted to - - 1 6 13 



Stalks and butts - - - 1 7 00 



13 13 



How much could be obtained by fiowin» it ex- 

 clusively for fodder, we have no means of deter- 

 mining with any accuracy. 



Nor have we any certain prescription to give as 

 to the amount of seed to be used lor an acre • cer- 

 tainly not less than half a bushel, nor more 'than 

 two bushels. Corn is a plant which, in rich soils, 

 tillers abundantly or throws out many suckers, 

 unless where it is very thickly sown, in which 

 ^ case It conforms to every other plant in iie hahita 

 of growth, and runs up in a slender form like 

 bushes in a thick swamp. Many persons advise 

 10 sow It broadcast, in which case it admits of no 

 alter cultivation j and the weeds, if the land is 

 rich, will check its growth and fill the ground 

 with their seeds. It is best to sow it in drills two 

 leet apart, and quite thickly in the drills, scattering 

 the seed over a space in the row, six inches or a 

 foot in width. It may then be ploughed or passed 

 through with a cultivator once at least ; and in a 

 measure kept clean from weeds. It is believed 

 that as much Ibdder may in this way be obtained 

 li-om an acre as if sown broadcast. 



The land cannot be made loo rich for it ; and it 

 need not be gathered until it is ripe. There may 

 be a good many imperfect and some ripened ears 

 among it ; but the cattle will not like it the less on 

 that account. The Irishman was asked how he 

 kept his horse so sleek and fat ; and <' faith !" eaya 

 honest Pat, " he has nothing but wheat straw, your 

 honor, and that is not half thrashed:'' It is a preva- 

 lent opinion that the top stalks of Indian corn when 

 cut in a succulent state, and cured quite green, are 

 better than when left to ripen. It is believed that 

 this IS an error ; as the experience of observino- 

 farmers, we think, will shovy that their cattle do 

 better, prefer them, give more milk and show bet- 

 ter thrift, when led upon the butt stalks, that is the 

 leaves and husks upon the butts alter the corn has 

 been gathered, than upon the top stalks gathered 

 and cured in a green state, as above described. The 

 lodder need not then be harvested until it is, as it is 

 termed, nearly dead ripe. Corn fodder when cut 

 green, especially late in the season, is cured with 

 great difficulty ; but if left to stand until it is either 

 killed by the frost or reaches maiurity, it is aa 

 easily saved as hay. In putting awav corn fodder, 

 we have found it advantageous to ins'ert, occasion- 

 ally, layers of wheat straw. The sweet flavor of 

 the corn fodder is communicated in some i^asure 

 to ths straw ; and the straw serves to kHp ths 



