CORRESPONDENCE OF DR. L. \V. CURTIS. 61 



ANS. I have usually planted my fodder-corn between the rows of 

 early peas, cabbages, and potatoes, and, when those crops were taken 

 off, run a cultivator or horse-hoe between the rows once only. Never 

 put a hoe into a field of fodder-corn. Last summer we ploughed up 

 some where the grass had been taken off, put some manure in the 

 rows, and planted July 14 ; cultivated with horse-hoe once, and had 

 a good crop. Last fall, after I took off my fodder-corn, I sowed 

 winter rye, which I shall put in my silo, and then plant with fodder- 

 corn. I think farmers should aim for two crops a year. 



QUES. What time of year do you think best to plant for ensilage? 



ANS. Should sow fodder- corn from June 10 to July 4, or even 

 later. 



QUES. About how much do you plant an acre? 



ANS. I have usually planted one and a half bushels to the acre, 

 but think it will stand up better, and perhaps do as well, to plant only 

 one bushel of the Southern White, but more of any other kind. I 

 have planted thick, so the stalks would not be too large. 



QUES. How much corn- fodder for ensilage do you think is an 

 average yield per acre ? 



ANS. I think we can raise from thirty to fifty tons to the acre, 

 according to the condition of the ground. 



QUES. Do you plant or raise any grains or grasses for ensilage? 



ANS. I put in my field corn-fodder first, mostly mixed with corn- 

 fodder ; next came Hungarian, and finally rowen. 



QUES. What do you think is the best machine for cutting corn- 

 fodder? 



ANS. I do not think there is much difference between a Baldwin 

 or Lyons machine. I think either will do good work. My preference 

 would be for the ' ' Silver and Deming. ' ' I have come to the conclu- 

 sion it stands at the head. 



QUES. What length do you consider most suitable to cut corn- 

 fodder? 



ANS. Should cut it two-fifths of an inch long. 



QUES. Will you give me your experience with silos? 



ANS. My silo is built on the back side of my barn, the top being 

 on a level with the floor where my cows stand. To get fourteen feet, 

 I had to excavate about four feet. As I had no time to draw stones, 

 and had a sand and gravel bank within ten rods, I built my walls of 

 stone, gravel, sand, and cement, three parts cement, four parts 

 sand, and one gravel. In commencing I found I was using too line 



