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ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



portion of ears, will prove a rich feeding stuff which will mater- 

 ially reduce the necessity for additional grain. Corn silage, 

 which is rich in carbohydrates, should be supplemented by clover 

 hay, if possible, not only because some dry food is required, but 

 because this hay is rich in protein. 



How to Plant Corn. 



Corn planted thickly in rows, and allowing only small ears 

 01 corn to develop w^ill give a larger yield of fodder per acre, than 

 corn planted in hills. When corn is planted this way it gives a 

 more leafy crop and the stalks are not so large as when it is 

 planted for grain alone. In wet seasons and especially on rich 

 ground the corn planted in rows sometimes lodges thereby making 

 it hard to cut. Curler plants his corn for the silo in rows, and 

 uses about 12 quarts of seed to the acre. Corn planted in hills 

 is a very satisfactory way for silage, and if the land is weedy, it 

 is perhaps best to plant the corn this way. This method gives 

 a larger per cent of grain to stalks than corn that is planted thick- 

 ly in rows. 



When to Cut the Corn. 



Corn for silo should be cut when the most advanced ears 

 are well dented and the lower leaves of the corn stalks are begin- 

 ning to dry. If it is cut much before this, the silage is apt to be 

 of poor quality. It will develop too much acid and consequently 

 be sour. There is more nutriment in corn if cut at the proper 

 time, than if it is cut too early. If it should so happen that the 

 corn is too ripe and somewhat too dry to make good silage a 

 stream of water can be run into the silo when it is being filled. 

 There is but little danger of running in too much water. 



Size the Corn Should Be Cut. 



The finer the green corn stalks are cut the closer they will 

 pack in the silo. This is a strong argument in favor of cutting 

 the corn very fine, for it is the germs in the air that spoils the 



