1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



485 



bundles of any size, and carry it home to barns or 

 sheds, or wherever it can be safe from rain, and 

 then open it and stand it up around, or spread it on 

 poles or any platform where the air can circulate 

 underneath. No matter about the sun in this po- 

 sition ; the moisture, the great trouble to be over- 

 come, will gradually evaporate, and the whole may 

 be packed away safely for any length of time. In 

 this way the brightest and best fodder is obtained. 

 The bundles left on the ground may be shocked up 

 like top stalks, but special care should be taken in 

 binding and capping the shocks, to guard against 

 any water getting down into the bundles, for so 

 solid are they when bound, that it will not run 

 through, and the moisture about the bands will re- 

 main to the injury of the fodder. Were it not for 

 the extra labor of dropping the seed in the drills, 

 1 should always follow this system, as more fodder 

 can be got from the same ground and it is more 

 conveniently handled through every process. In the 

 making of this fodder which has been mowed the 

 same process may be followed as with clover, only 

 it takes longer time. After two days' sun it should 

 be put in heaps of moderate size, to stand for a 

 few days. At every opening and putting up the 

 heaps may be made larger, till they are young 

 stacks, and then they may be left at discretion as 

 to time. But as the mass is very porous the heaps 

 should be well covered with green cuttings or any 

 thing else. 



Thus far I have had respect to small operations 

 in the fodder line, to the doings of those who have 

 but little land or stock. To such I would recom- 

 mend to employ every spare patch on their prem- 

 ises in growing the fodder in question, to be used 

 green or dry ; to plant the seed in every nook and 

 corner, and particularly on head lands and in out- 

 side rows instead of potatoes, which in such situa- 

 tions generally do but little, but the roots of the 

 corn here will extend outward and make vigorous 

 plants. A good late crop of my favorite article may 

 be obtained immediately after oats which are cut 

 early for fodder, with a slight dressing with guano 

 or ashes or some vigorous manure. 



9. Corn fodder compared ivith good hay for mak- 

 ing milk. I have often tried the experiment, with 

 a result in favor of the former. But many say 

 we will plant our land with our corn in our old 

 way, and then we get the grain and fodder too. 

 This is true, but the fodder is far inferior and but 

 about one-tenth as much. And besides, a good 

 growth of fodder may be had on land, where there 

 would be but a meagre yield of common corn. 



10. Green corn stalks are injurious to milch cows. 

 This idea was referred to by a writer in the Farmer 

 last year. Although this old tradition has been 

 nullified by all my experience, yet to get the opin- 

 ion of others I inquired of a milk man for his ex- 

 perience in his business. His answer was to this 

 effect : "I grow a large amount of sweet corn on 

 purpose for my cows, and begin to feed it out as 

 soon as it will do to cut, and continue to, so long as 

 it continues green, and I plant at different times. 

 This practice I have continued for years, in face of 

 the old notion of drying up the milk. To test this 

 question," continued he, "let a cow break into a field 

 of green corn, when of course she will eat all she 

 wants, but who ever found she gave less milk for it ? 

 Instead of any injury from green corn fodder for 

 my cows, I consider it among the best articles I 

 can get for soil feeding, and for helping out my 

 short pastures in dry times." 



Farmers who have an ample supply of mowing 

 lands have less inducement to go for this fodder, 

 but even in that case, they will see their account in 

 it in part at least, for their cows, green or dry. 

 From no grain can so much per acre be obtained. 



11. Corn fodder for horses. Through all the south 

 and west, where grass does not grow naturally as 

 with us, corn blades, as the leaves are called, consti- 

 tute the principal fodder for horses, as well as 

 other stock. These leaves are stripped off when 

 green, and cured and done up much as top stalks 

 are managed with us. In seasons when the grass 

 crop will evidently be short, much may be done to 

 help the deficiency by the sowing of corn, which 

 may be done after it is certain the failure will take 

 place. But where I can have my choice I get this 

 fodder ready for cutting while the sun shines with 

 full power, as the making of it is attended with 

 more ease and less hazard. Agkicola. 



UNITED STATES AGHICULTURAL SO- 

 CIETY. 



Office 160 Chestnut Steset, Philadblphia. 



The Fourth Annual Exhibition of the United 

 States Agricultural Society will be held at 

 PowELTON, (Philadelphia,) on Tuesday, Wednes- 

 day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 7th, 

 8th, 9thj 10th and 11th. 



Premiums from Twextt-Fiye to Two Hun- 

 dred Dollars, amounting in the aggregate to 

 FoLTiTEEN Thousand Dollars, will be offered for 

 the various classes of Domestic Animals, Fruits, 

 American Wines, Vegetables, Grains, and Agricul- 

 tural Implements and Machinery. 



A Local Committee at Philadelphia, represent- 

 ing the various branches of Industry, has been ap- 

 pointed to co-operate with the officers of the socie- 

 ty, in perfecting arrangements for the Exhibition. 

 FiETEEN Thous.and DOLLARS have been guaran- 

 teed to meet expenses. This material aid, coupled 

 with the excellence of the selected location, and 

 the large amount of Premiums offered, induces the 

 expectation that the Exhibition of 1856 will be su- 

 perior to any of its predecessors. 



A Grand Agricultural Banquet, in which ladies, 

 as well as gentlemen, will participate, will take 

 place on Friday, October 10th, when distinguished 

 gentlemen will address the assemblage. 



Favorable arrangements with the various rail- 

 roads for the transportation of Stock and other ar- 

 ticles are in progress, the terms of which will be 

 given on application at the office. 



The List of Entries, the Awards of Premiums, 

 and the Proceedings, will be published in the Jour- 

 nal of the Society for 1856. 



The Premium List, with the Regulations and 

 Programme of the Exhibition, will be furnished on 

 application to Mr. John M'Gowan, Assistant Sec- 

 retary of the United States Agricultural Society, 

 160 Chestnut Street, (Rooms of the Philadelphia 

 Agricultural Society,) or by addressing the Secre- 

 tary, at Boston. 



Marshall P. Wilder, President. 



William S. King, Secretary. 



Sept. 1st, 1856. 



Effect of Hard Water lton Animals. — 

 Horses have an instinctive love of soft water, and 

 refuse hard water, if they can possibly get the form- 



