FEEDING THE PLANT 107 



FOR FORAGE AND SILAGE CORN 



In the growing of field corn, the main object is to 

 obtain the greatest yield of grain, whereas in the case 

 of forage, when used green or for silage, a larger pro- 

 portion of stalk and leaf is desirable ; besides it is advis- 

 able when possible to obtain a food richer in protein, 

 and a thicker planting and an abundance of nitrogen 

 in the manures contribute to this end. Hence, while 

 the recommendations already made for field corn may 

 be followed in respect to the kind of materials for 

 silage corn, larger applications are desirable. On good 

 soils apply ten tons of good manure to supply the or- 

 ganic nitrogen and part of the mineral constituents, 

 and from three hundred to four hundred pounds of 

 mixture No I. 



Briefly stated, then, for silage corn, apply broad- 

 cast previous to plowing, ten to twelve tons of good 

 yard manure, and either broadcast or in the row at time 

 of planting, three hundred and fifty to four hundred 

 pounds of mixture No I. On poor soils, the manure 

 need not be increased, but the amount of fertilizer 

 added and the proportion of nitrogen should be. The 

 same recommendations that are made for different 

 localities may be followed, as in the case of field corn. 



Where a leguminous crop like crimson clover is 

 used as a catch crop, a continuous growing of corn is 

 entirely practicable, though the fertilization should be 

 very different from that recommended when either a 

 sod land or raw ground is used. This system is well 

 adapted for the middle and northermost of the gulf 

 states. For the more southern and central states, and 

 those of the middle west, such crops as cowpeas or soy 

 beans may be grown to much better advantage as green 

 manure. In any case, whatever crop is grown, pro- 

 vided it is a leguminous crop, the practice in reference 



