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must sow our com, the sweet variety, in drills, and not sow 

 it too thick." One reason why we get good fodder in this 

 way is, b}^ sowing thin in drills, the corn has a chance after 

 it has grown its butt stalk leaves, to go right on growing top 

 stalks and husks, and if we begin to use it before the top 

 stalks and husks have poured their contents into the ear, we 

 get the same quality of fodder that we get before the butt 

 stalk leaves discharge their contents. 



Another reason is, by using the sweet variety, the stalks 

 do not become as hard and indio;estiblo as when the harder 

 varieties of corn are sown. 



But my cows, and the French chemists, tell me there is a 

 way to get as good fodder, and in about one-half of the time, 

 and that is to sow Southern or Western corn thick, and use 

 it before it has finished growing its butt stalk leaves. 



There are two ways to have very poor fodder corn. One 

 is, to sow it thick and not use it before the stalks have hard- 

 ened. If the corn is very thick, it cannot go on and make 

 that perfect growth of top stalks and husks which make such 

 good food when it is thin. 



Another way is to sow the Western corn thin, and let it 

 stand until the ears are formed, and the butt stalks are too 

 long for cord wood, but not quite large enough for good saw- 

 logs. This same principle of discharging the contents of the 

 leaves applies to Dr. Loring's rowen. As I understand the 

 laws of growth, the object of the first growth of leaves in 

 the season is to help grow seed stalks and mature seed ; but 

 as far as the welfare of the plant is concerned, the late growth, 

 or rowen, is mainly to strengthen the roots for the next season. 



Mr. Johnson, of Framingham, at the same meeting in Fall 

 River, said, "August is the time for our grass to start for 

 next year." Very few farmers as yet give the grass roots the 

 benefit of that start, or anything as a substitute for it. Row- 

 en may become over-ripe for fodder, as well as the first 

 growth, or as fodder corn may, but the contents of the leaves, 

 instead of going into stalks, return directly to the roots to be 



