410 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Discussion. 



From the reports of the members this evening, it appears 

 that 60 bushels shelled corn (or 70 pounds on the ear) per 

 acre may, with a fair amount of fertilization and clean culti- 

 vation, be reasonably expected; it also appears that dry 

 stover, if clean and sweet, is at least equal in feed value to 

 the best hay, and that meal made by grinding the whole ears 

 is equal, pound for pound, in feeding value to that produced 

 from Western corn (such as is usually sold by dealers), and 

 further, it is conceded that if at the time of husking the grain 

 is dry enough to crib and the stover to pack without danger 

 of heating or mould, the ears and stover are about equal in 

 weight, and as 60 bushels of corn at 70 pounds per bushel 

 weighs 4,200 pounds, or 2yV tons, it follows that the weight 

 of the stover must be the same, making its feeding value at 

 the present price of hay from $35 to $40. If this estimate 

 is correct it can be easily seen that the corn has cost nothing, 

 the members reporting that $35 or $40 will cover the entire 

 cost of the acre, including fertilizer, cultivation and har- 

 vesting. 



Many careful trials have proven that one bushel (70 pounds) 

 of cobbage meal, together with 70 pounds of stover, is a good 

 and sufficient feed for a milch cow one week ; so that one acre 

 of average corn will keep two cows nearly or quite through 

 the entire winter. 



Having settled these points, it would seem as though 

 nothing more need be said to induce every dairy farmer who 

 is a member of this club to raise all the corn he uses, thus 

 removing the greatest burden with which we have to contend, 

 — the grain bills. But you say you have not the manure 

 or the money to buy it. Well, that is bad, but it is much 

 easier to raise one dollar for fertilizer than three dollars to 

 pay for the feed which it will produce ; if you will try it one 

 year, I think you will be in better condition the year after. 



There is one other point, the growing of corn, commonly 

 called fodder or ensilage corn, to be fed green or siloed. 

 From the statements made by members of the club, it appears 

 that the largest yield in this vicinity is 25 tons, just equalling 



