74') MAIZE 



CHAP. 711. Moisture-content of Maize Fodder and Stover. — The 



xv. 



amount of water in field-cured maize fodder has been found 

 to vary from 23 to 60 per cent, and in field-cured stover 

 from 15 to 57 per cent in different localities and seasons 

 Hunt, 1 . j 



The moisture-content may also vary up or down, according 

 to the weather. The Connecticut Station {Rep. 1 87S) records 

 a case in which the moisture-content of field-cured maize fodder 

 doubled between I 1 November and 8 February ; it weighed 5 

 tons when put in storage, and 8 tons three months later ; " this 

 is probably unusual, but it shows the possibility of variation of 

 weight due to atmospheric conditions ". 



To determine the amount of digestible nutrients in any 

 given sample, therefore, a fresh analysis should be made for 

 any particular part of the country or any given season ; the 

 average of all analyses can be of no practical use for this pur- 

 pose. The relative amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates 

 will probably not vary very greatly from the mean. 



712. Green Mair:e Forage. — Maize is sometimes grown for 

 green fodder for dairy cows, horses, etc. But there is usually 

 such, an abundance of summer feed on South African farms 

 that it is not required at that time of year except perhaps for 

 dairies in or near towns. Being sensitive to frost maize cannot 

 be grown as a winter crop, except in quite frostless localities 

 where lucerne might in many cases be produced with equal or 

 greater advantage. 



Sir J. Percy Fitzpatrick observes: — 



"1 saw in many places in Germany that the small farmers 

 plant maize lor cow and pig feeding. The grain of course 

 cannot mature there, but they get a good weight of green food. 

 Most plots are only about 10 yards by 50 yards. The maize 

 is planted in rows, the plants being about 6 inches apart and 

 the rows about 12 inches apart. The result (on presumably 

 highly manured ground) is a dense mass of stems, with leafy 

 tops, 10 feet high. It struck me that this would be a good 

 addition to feed for cows in milk. Such small plots could be 

 sown close to the cow sheds and the reaping and transporting 

 costs would be trifling." 



713. Relative Value of Green Maize Forage from different 



