54 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and one-half bushels to the acre.] The cultivation remains 

 the same ; the field mnst be kept free from weeds. At blos- 

 som-time the corn is mown, loaded into wagons, and hauled 

 in. The home-brought corn is put in large ditches (German, 

 Grube Miethe), ten or twenty rods long, and is here pressed 

 in by a few men walking on the green corn. The ditch is 

 twelve feet deep, twelve feet wide at the top, and six feet at 

 the bottom. The leno-th will need to be sufficient to contain 

 the fodder to be preserved. The ditch must be dug in dry 

 ground. When the ditch is filled, the green corn is built like 

 a stack upwards, about ten feet over the level of the ground. 

 The finished stack is then covered with earth about two feet 

 thick on every side. It is best to cover the top of the stack 

 at first, because the weight of the earth pressing down the 

 green corn, as much earth is not needed for covering as is the 

 case when the sides are covered at first. 



"This sour-hay making enables us to store a large quantity 

 of juicy fodder for the winter, and if well covered with earth 

 it may be stored for a few years without any injury. The 

 most important of all is, the beasts being once acquainted with 

 this sour hay like it very much. With us (in Hungary) the 

 sour hay is cut and mixed with corn-meal, or some other 

 ground grain, and given to the cattle, but the sour hay mily 

 be fed uncut also. 



"In sections where stones and bricks are to be obtained, 

 chiefly the sides of the ditch uiny be walled, but it is not 

 necessary. 



"I should be very glad if these lines would serve to encour- 

 age the sour-hay making of corn by the American farmers." 

 — American Agriculdiristfor October, 1873. G. C. 



Albkchtsfeld, Hungary. 



