24 



apart. The seeds may be put in them and covered, after which the field should be 

 rolled. The sunflower seeds are to be planted by themselves in rows 3 feet apart 

 with not more than 3 or 4 seeds per foot in the row. They may be planted with a 

 small hand planter, or by a method similar to the one which is used with the indian 

 corn and horse beans. All the seeds should be planted to a depth of from 2 to 3 

 inches. 



Cultivation. Only in cases where a crust forms on the land, before or immediately 

 after the plants come up, a light harrowing will prove helpful to the crop. The cul- 

 tivation between the rows, when the plants are small, should be close to them; when 

 the plants have grown to a height of 2 feet it should be more distant and shallow, in 

 order not to injure the side roots. 



Cutting in the field. The crop is to be cut when the indian corn reaches the 

 "glazing" stage of growth; that is, when the ears are just past the best condition for 

 table use. The corn and beans may be cut by hand or by any of the devices in use 

 for cutting fodder corn in the field. The heads only of the sunflowers are to be used. 

 They may be cut off by a common reaping hook or other knife. They may be put 

 directly into a wagon or cart, or into a basket, or into heaps, from which they may 

 be loaded afterwards. 



Putting into the silo. When the indian corn has reached the "glazing" stage of 

 growth, the crop is to be put into the silo without wilting or drying; but when it 

 has not reached the glazing stage before frost comes, it is to be cut and left to wilt or 

 dry in the field for about one day. The corn and beans (from 2 acres) are to be cut 

 in lengths of from ^ inch to 1 inch and put into the silo; and the heads only (from 

 half an acre) of sunflowers are to be cut with them. They may be fed through the 

 cutting box with the corn and beans. A fairly even distribution of the mixture 

 should be made in the silo while it is being filled. If the leaves and lighter parts 

 are permitted to flutter into one place, and the stalks, ears, and heavier portions are 

 allowed to settle by themselves, the ensilage will not keep well. The mixture is to 

 be tramped thoroughly around the sides and in the corners of the silo. A thin layer 

 of uncut cornstalks should be put between the Robertson mixture and the other 

 contents (if any) of the silo, in order to mark the exact place in the ensilage. 



After the silo is filled, the surface should be leveled and thoroughly tramped, and 

 after the lapse of not more than one day it should be covered to a depth of 6 inches 

 with cut straw or cheap fodder. If this be tramped occasionally, and a foot of cut 

 straw be put on top of that a few days later, probably no waste ensilage will be found 

 on the opening of the silo for feeding. 



Feeding the ensilage. The Robertson mixture is to be fed with 4 pounds less meal 

 or grain per 50 pounds of ensilage than has been required with ordinary corn ensi- 

 lage, to make an economical ration for feeding milch cows and fattening cattle. 



COST OP GROWING SUNFLOWERS. 



In the report of the experimental farms of the Dominion of Canada 

 for 1894 is found, on page 100, an estimate of the cost of growing sun- 

 flowers, which will prove of interest. 



Four acres of sunflowers of the Mammoth Russian variety were sown April 23, by 

 using a Planet Junior seed drill, with 5 pounds of seed per acre, in rows 3 feet apart. 

 The plants came up thick and were thinned when 2 or 3 inches high, so as to leave 

 one plant every 12 or 18 inches in the rows. The heads were allowed to become 

 almost ripe before they were cut; and they were in a drier condition than in former 

 years. In 1892 the yield per acre was 7 tons, containing 75.62 per cent of water. 

 In 1894 the heads when cut contained on the average 69.3 per cent of water. 



