NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



125 



ever may be said in favor of a change of seed, as 

 regards other crops, there is no need of changing 

 seed corn, provided proper care is used in the yearly 

 selection of that for planting, liy proper attention 

 to this matter, a variety may be perfectly adapted in 

 its habits to a given climate and soil, and changed 

 much for the better as to productiveness. The dif- 

 ference in product, between careful selection in the 

 field, and taking seed at random from the crib, will, 

 in a very few years, be much in favor of the former 

 mode, — the soil and cultivation being in both cases 

 alike. 



As soon as the earliest ears are thoroughly glazed, 

 I go over the field myself, selecting from those stalks 

 that are " stocky " and vigorous, and that produce 

 two good ears. The selected ears are taken imme- 

 diately home, braided, and hung up in a dry, airy 

 jilace. When I commenced with my favorite variety, 

 it was difficult to find twin ears ; but now they are 

 abundant. My crops also ripen ten days earlier than 

 at first. I will not mention the length of the ears 

 that might be found in my fields, but will say to you, 

 Mr. Editor, come and see for yourself. 



F. HOLBROOK. 



Bkattleboko', Vt., March 26, 1850. 



For the Neto England Farmer. 

 CORN FODDER, 



Mr. Cole; In your number for December 8, 

 you published a communication headed " Corn for 

 Fodder." In your remarks I entirelj' coincide, ex- 

 cept in one statement, viz. : " But thirty tons of 

 green stalks will not make twelve tons of dry fod- 

 der ; probably not more than si.\ tons." Wishing to 

 have some exact data from which to judge of the 

 profitableness of this crop, I tried some exi)eriments 

 last year, for that purpose, and wrote down the 

 results at the time. The field where I tried the ex- 

 periments, was planted the 5th of June, in drills 

 nearly three feet apart. On the middle of Septem- 

 ber, I cut a bundle which weighed thirty-four pounds. 

 The stalks were green, with a few small ears fit for 

 boiling. I spread this bundle in as exposed a situa- 

 tion for drying as I could find, and after three days 

 of good weather it weighed nineteen and one half 

 pounds. In seven days it weighed seventeen and 

 one half pounds, and after a fortnight, ffteen and 

 one half pounds. I put it under cover every night 

 and every dull day, 



I also cut a bundle of green " tops " in the corn- 

 field, which weighed thirty-one pounds ; one day 

 after, it weighed twenty-two and one half pounds. 

 After a week of sunny warm weather, it weighed 

 fifteen pounds. This result, showing a shrinkage of 

 about eleven twentieths, was not (juite as much as I 

 expected. We had guessed the loss in drying would 

 be from two thirds to three quarters of its weight. 



It would be interesting to me to hear of other ex- 

 periments on this matter, and also the grounds upon 

 which you estimated the loss in drying to be four 

 fifths of the weight ; as one experiment is not entirely 

 conclusive. 



I should be glad to learn what mode of curing 

 corn fodder in large quantities you would recom- 

 mend, and what modes are practised in the vicinity 

 of Boston. 



I was about to write a list of other inquiries, but 

 I will not extend this communication. 



Yours respectfully, J. II. A. 



HiLLSBoaouGH Co., N. H., Jan. 19, 1850. 



Remarks. — By some mistake this article has been 

 delayed. Our statement that " thirty tons of green 

 fodder Avill not make twelve tons of drv," is founded 



partly on experiments in weighing, and partly on 

 judgment; but we say *^ probably not more than six 

 tons." This latter remark is guess work, as appears 

 from our qualification ; j'ct we have some facts, on 

 which this fact is founded. 



We do not dispute the results of experiments as 

 communicated, but we think experiments will not 

 generally give such results. Our opinion is founded 

 on the loss of weight in top stalks, as we have 

 handled them much more than corn cut up at the 

 gi-ound ; and a bundle that is quite heavy green, 

 weighs onlj' a few pounds when dry. A farmer who 

 raised large qiiantities of corn fodder, said that it 

 required good land, higlily manured, and well naan- 

 aged, to produce six tons of dry fodder. Now, on 

 such land we should (jfcpect twenty or thirty tons of 

 green fodder. Mr. Willard Earle, of Worcester, 

 raised forty tons of green fodder to the acre. Is it 

 possible to get twenty tons of dry fodder to the 

 acre ? 



We are much obliged to our correspondent for 

 calling attention to the subject, and we shall be 

 happy to learn that we are mistaken, and that the 

 crop of djy corn fodder is far larger than we consid- 

 ered it, forming our opinion by inferences from facts, 

 instead of direct facts. We regard this subject as 

 unsettled, and request farmers to make experiments, 

 both on top stalks, and on corn fodder, and report to 

 us the result. 



As to curing corn fodder, it is best to sow it suffi- 

 ciently early for it to be fit to cut while the weather 

 is warm, and the ground warm and dry. After cut- 

 ting it, expose it considerably to the sun, carefully 

 securing it against storms and heavy dews. 



For the Kew England Farmer. 

 NATIVE ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS. 



Mr. Cole : There are many species of shrubs found 

 in our woods and hedges, far more beautiful than a 

 large portion of the exotic kinds which are carefully 

 and extensively cultivated for ornamental puri)oses. 

 Indigenous shrubs have boon employed to a limited 

 extent, as yet, for embellishment ; but their merits are 

 more appreciated as they become better understood. 

 Some of the most splendid kinds have been trans- 

 ferred from the forest to the garden, and are much 

 prized and sought for. 



The Khododendron maximum, or Rose bay, as it is 

 sometimes called, is a magnificent flowering shrub. 

 It is somewhat rare in this section. 



The Kalmia, or Laurel, of which there arc throe 

 species in this vicinity, all of which are beautifid, 

 but rather ditHcult to cultivate, is an evergreen, and 

 adds much to the landscape in winter, by its green 

 leaves, which are always cheering to the sight at that 

 dreary season. 



The Azaleas, of which wo have two species in this 

 section, arc most splendid ; one bearing pink flowers, 

 and the other white, and both having a very fragrant 

 odor, resembling that of the garden pink. No col- 

 lection of shruljberv should be without them. 



The Rhodora Canadensis, or false lIoneyHuckle, is 

 a beautiful early flowering shrub, common in wet 

 groimds, and worthy of a place in every collection. 



The common Sweet Brier, or native rose, is much 

 improved bv cultivation, and perfumes the air with 



