1 



34 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER. 



Vol. 3 



-ludian Coin for Fodder. 



Inquiry^ 



Mb- Editor — 



I wish to sow two or three acres of corn for the 

 fodder, and not being acquainted with the crop, I 

 should like to be informed as to the quantity of 

 seed to be sown per acre, the time of sowing, the 

 manner of tilling or putting in the crop, at what 

 time the crop should be cut up, and all other little 

 particulars concerning it, that I may be successful 

 in the experiment. 



If you will give the necessary information through 

 your paper, you will afford many subscribers val- 

 uable information. If such a crop will produce 

 from five to seven tons per acre— after being cur- 

 ed — as some persons pretend that it will, it would 

 be well for farmers to understand it. 



LEDYARD. 



Cayuga Co., N. ¥. 



Remarks on the abore.— The cultivation of Indian 

 Corn for fodder may be well recommended to the 

 farmers, especially where pasturage is deficient, or 

 in a season where the crop of hay is likely to be 

 small. Among the farmers who supply the cities 

 with milk, it is a favorite crop, and is given to 

 their cows at night and morning to assist a short 

 pasture. In such cases it is sowed at successive 

 seasons, every week or fortnight, so that the crop 

 may be coming on as needed. It is sometimes cut 

 when it is knee-high, and then in general it will 

 start a second time, so that another cutting may be 

 obtained. This should not, however, be confi- 

 dently relied upon. Where it is wanted for green 

 feed, it is of course advisable not to cut it until the 

 plant is in perfection ; we do not mean until the 

 seed is ripened, but until the leaves and stems are 

 as abundant and large as they are likely to be ; 

 that is when the flower is protruded, and the ear 

 formed, and yet no part of the plant has become 

 too hard to be completely eaten up by the cattle. 

 Every farmer, therefore, may make his calcula- 

 tion as to the time of planting. The earlier he 

 plants, the sooner he will have the fodder and the 

 more of it to give to his stock ; and by planting at 

 successive times according to his convenience, he 

 may keep up a supply of succulent food to the very 

 end of the season. None need be lost ; and every 

 leaf and stem of it should be saved, even after the 

 frost has killed it 



We have seen the plant cultivated to great ad- 

 vantage for soiling cows ; in many instances ; in 

 one where twenty cows were kept ; in another 

 where a hundred cows were soiled. In the latter 

 case several acres were sown with corn for this 

 and it was cut and brought into the barn 



the relish with which they cat it ; and the good 

 condition in which it keeps them. The amount of 

 well dried corn fodder, including butts as well as 

 tops, where the crop is fifty bushels, is generaUy 

 estimated at two tons ; this of the small yellow 

 flint variety of corn ; the southern gourd seed vari- 

 ety and the AVestern corn, produce a much larger 

 amount. Farmers in general are disposed to esti- 

 mate the fodder upon such an acre of corn, well 

 saved, as equal for any neat stock, to one ton of 

 English hay. Some place it at one and a half ton ; 

 none lower than three fourths of a ton. 



The only instance, which has come within our 

 knowledge, of ascertaining with any exactness the 

 actual amount of fodder or stover upon an acre, 

 was in Pennsylvania, where we infer the gourd 



corn fodder from being injured by lieating. Noij 

 fodder suffers more or sooner from wet or rain thaiV| 

 corn fodder. Every possible pains should, there* 

 fore, be taken to avoid this ; and it is a good way 

 to hang as much cf our corn fodder, as we liave 

 room for, on the beams and on poles extended over 

 the barn floors, and in sheds where it will be out of 

 the reach of the cattle. 



As to the kind of corn to be sown, the Southern 

 gourd-seed or the Western corn, will undoubtedly 

 give the largest weight ; but much of it will be 

 in the butt, no part of which will the cattle eat. 

 Our common Northern small flint corn will yield a 

 large amount to the acre, as it will bear thick sow- 

 ing ; and the main stalk is not so large but that a 

 good deal of it will be eaten , especially if cut up. 



seed variety was cultivated, and where the crop Improved Durham Short Ilorius as Milkiu^ 



amounted to 66 bushels. In this case 



Tons. act. lbs. 

 The blades, husks and tops, when 



cured, amounted to 1 6 13 



Stalks and butts 1 ' 00 



13 13 



purpose 



as wanted. There was no feed of which the stock 

 ■were more fond ; none which produced more milk ; 

 and none obtained at a less expense. It was all cut 

 short by a machine, and while gathered green 

 every particle of it was consumed. When in the 

 autumn itbecaraedry, itwas steamed forthestock. 

 Among the milk farmers, near the cities, its culti- 

 vation is constantly increasing. 



We have known it likewise much used for store 

 hogs. Where pasturage is deficient, or where 

 they are kept in styes, no green food is more rel- 

 ished by them or more conducive to their thrift. 

 In this case, however, it is of cour.se given to them 

 in a green and succulent state. 



We have not known it cultivated extensively for 

 winter fodder, but there is no reason \vhy it should 

 not be. In this case it would be desirable to sow 

 it early, if we would have the largest crop, and 

 let it come to what maturity it will. The value of 

 well cured corn fodder for stock is settled. The 

 cattle have determined the question long ago by 



How much cbuld be obtained by sowing it exclu- 

 sively for fodder, we have no means of determin- 

 ing with any accuracy. 



Nor have we any certain prescription to give as 

 to the amount of seed to be used for an acre ; cer. 

 tainly not less than half a bushel, nor more thnii two 

 bushels. Corn is a plant which, in rich soil, tillers 

 abundantly or throws out many suckers, unless 

 where it is very thickly sown, in which case it con- 

 forms to every other plant in its habits of growth, 

 and runs up in a slender form like bushes in a 

 thick swamp. Many persons advise to sow it 

 broad cast, in -which case it admits of no after cul- 

 tivation ; and the weeds, if the laud is ricli, will 

 check its growth and fill the ground with their 

 seeds. It is best to sow it in drills two feet apart, 

 and quite thickly in the drills, scattering the seed 

 over a Space in the row, six inches or a foot in 

 width. It may then be ploughed or passed through 

 with a cultivator once at least ; and in a measure 

 kept clean from weeds. It is believed that as 

 much fodder may in this way be obtained from an 

 acre, as if sown broad cast. 



The land cannot be made too rich for it ; and it 

 need not be gathered until it is ripe. There may 

 be a good many imperfect and some ripened ears 

 among it ; but the cattle will not like it the less on 

 that account. The Irishman was asked how he 

 kept his horse so sleek and fat; and "faith! says 

 honest Pat, he has nothing but whate straw, your 

 honor, and that is not half thrcshal." It is a preva- 

 lent opinion that the top stalks of Indian corn when 

 cut in a succulent state, and cured quite green, are 

 better than when left to ripen. It is believed that 

 this is an error ; as the experience of observing 

 farmers, we think, will show that their cattle do 

 better, prefer them, give more milk and show bet- 

 ter thrift, when fed upon the buttstalks, that is the 

 leaves and husks upon the butts after the corn has 

 been gathered, than upon the top stalks gathered 

 and curecf in a green state, as above described. The 

 fodder need not then be harvested until it is, as it is 

 termed, nearly dead ripe. Corn fodder when cut 

 green, especially late in the season, is cured with 

 great difficulty ; but if left to stand until it is either 

 killed by the frost or reaches maturity, it is as 

 easily saved as hay. In putting away corn fodder, 

 we have found it advantageous to insert occasion- 

 ally, layers of wheat straw. The sweet flavor of 



Stocl 



I subjoin a letter from Wm. K. Townsend, of Ncw1 

 Haven, Conn., received since my Fourth Report of the 

 A'niculturc of Massachusetts was published. From 

 this report an extract has been given, both hi the num- 

 ber for February and in the January No., re- 

 lating to D.MRY Stock, in which the clahns of tliiB 

 race are examined under the light of the fullest infor- 

 mation which I had then obtained or could obtain. 

 The reference made to the stock of Mr. Townsend in 

 my Fourth Report, p 273. No. 7, was founded on the 

 statement of the Committee on Farms of the New 

 Haven Agricultural Society. Had Ins letter reached 

 me ill season, I should certainly have inserted it with 

 pleasure. 



There can be no doubt of the authority of this let- 

 ter. It is worthy of full confidence, and speaks well 

 for the nulking properties of this valuable race. The 

 quantities of milk reported are remarkable. The 

 statement however, is positive only as to three of the 

 animals. " Lady," during the winter averaged 18 qts. 

 per day, and in her prune and on full feed, gave 30 qts. 

 per day. She was a selected cow. 



"Favorite," her offspring, gave 22 qts. Having 

 lost one teat, her greatest quantity since has been 34 

 quarts. 



" Beauty,'' the daughter of Favorite, and grand 

 daughter of Lady, gave 10 qts. on the morning of the 

 day when she calved, and after that increased to 30 

 qts. per day,at which rate she continued for six or eight 

 weeks. It is not said whether the measure was beer 

 or wine quarts, but I presume the latter; 30 wine 

 quarts would be equal to about 2i beer quarts. If tlio 

 milk was measured in the pail, little reliance can he 

 placed upon the exactness of the measurement. This 

 case presents one among the frequent examples of the 

 indefinitencss with which statements of this nature 

 are made. It would have been gratifying to have 

 been told how the cows wore kept. 



In respect likewise, to the eight thorough bred Dur- 

 hams, descendants from Lady, all, as Mr. T. says, su- 

 perior milkers, and of whom he adds, we estimate their 

 average yield for eight weeks allcr calving, at il qts. 

 per day, on good feed ; it will be seen that this is mat- 

 ter altogether of cstiiiuilc. not of ascertainment. It 

 must therefore be set down as such. 



It is to be regretted that Mr. T. has made no trial of 

 the butter properties of the milk. The facts that "it 

 brings the best price in the New Haven market," that 

 ■■Ids family deemed it richer than the milk of native 

 cows, when placed side by side," that " the millcnian 

 pronounced it the richest he had ever carried to mar- 

 ket,,' and that "some of his customers consider it the 

 best they can procure," are all valuable as opinions or 

 presumptions in the case; and certainly without the 

 slightest disparagement to, but with the highest respect 

 forthejudgnient of the gentleman, who certifies this 

 account, it will be seen that these are all matters of 



Mik 



iw. 



Ml 



the corn fodder is communicated in some measure 



to the straw ; and the straw serves to keep the | private opinion and judgment, and therefore by no 



