138 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
May. 
profit, but domestic animals serve the indispensi- 
ble purpose of supplying manure; hence, in esti¬ 
mating the profit of raising and fattening cattle, 
sheep and swine, the very important means they 
serve in providing pabulum for tillage crops, should 
be carefully taken into account, a thing too often 
thrown entirely out of the question. 
\Ye briefly mention these different points in suc¬ 
cessful farming, not as anything new, but for the 
purpose of recalling the attention of farmers, who, 
by careful observation and accurate records, can 
arrange the details of adjusting their own opera¬ 
tions, better than by any particular rules we could 
lay down for their guidance. 
Sowing Corn for Fodder. 
The value of corn-stalks for fodder, is many 
times mentioned in late volumes of the Cultiva¬ 
tor; but I do not recollect having seen anything 
very complete and full on broad-cast cultivation. 
It is no matter of doubt, that an acre of corn¬ 
stalks will furnish a much larger . quantity and 
value of winter feed for cattle, than the same ex¬ 
tent of meadow. Most farmers are afraid to try it, 
for the reason that it is supposed that the succu¬ 
lent stalks are difficult to cure, when mown be- 
fore maturity. Very many farmers, and good 
farmers too, have little idea of the great value of 
well cured stalks. 
For the benefit of the subscribers to the current 
vol. of the Cultivator, will you give us in time for 
the season’s use, an article on the culture and best 
mode of preserving the crop. ¥m. II. Scott. 
Adrian , Mich., Feb. 10, 1853. 
We have cultivated corn for fodder for many 
years, and find it, all things considered, the most 
profitable crop we can raise. It may be sown du¬ 
ring the comparative season of leisure just after 
corn-planting, and secured at the next season of 
leisure just after haying and harvesting. After 
repeatedly cropping the same ground, we are satis¬ 
fied that it rather enriches than impoverishes the 
land, no grain being formed, and a vast bed of 
roots remaining. Nothing is equal to it for redu¬ 
cing rough, turfy, weedy land, to a state of clean¬ 
liness and good tilth. We believe it the "best fal¬ 
low crop in the world, to precede wheat. 
It should never be sown broadcast. The imper¬ 
fections of this mode are the chief reasons that 
the crop has not become more generally intro¬ 
duced. It requires more seed, and leaves the 
ground in a fouler condition than when sown in 
plowed drills. We have tried both vrays to our 
entire satisfaction as to the comparative value of 
each. The following is the best mode for sowing, 
cultivating, and securing the crop-.— 
Plow and harrow the ground as for any other 
crop; furrow it with a one-horse plow, three feet 
apart; let a man pass along one of these drills 
with a half-bushel basket on his left arm contain¬ 
ing shelled corn, and strew the seed in the fur¬ 
row at the rate of about 40 or 50 grains to a foot, 
which will be about or three bushels per acre. 
He will do this evenly, with a little practice, as 
fast as he can walk. If sowed thinner, the crop 
will be smaller. We have found by accurately 
weighing and measuring, that 20 grains to the foot 
yielded only two-thirds the crop afforded by 40 
grains to the foot. Immediately after the sower, 
follows a man with a one-horse harrow or cultiva¬ 
tor, or with a two-horse harrow, lengthwise with 
the farrow, and covers the seed. Two men will 
thus plant six or seven acres in a day. 
When the corn is six inches to a foot high, run 
a one-horse cultivator between the rows. This is 
all the dressing the crop needs. No hoeing is ne¬ 
cessary, for the dense growth soon smothers down 
all else; and in the autumn, w r hen the crop is cut 
off, the earth is left as clean as a newly plowed 
field. 
It is to be harvested about the first of autumn. 
If the crop is very heavy or much u lodged,” it 
is cut by reaping. If straight and even, a com¬ 
mon scythe will answer the purpose, a little prac¬ 
tice enabling the operator to throw it smoothly 
with the heads in one direction. After partly 
drying, for a day or two, the best way is to tie it 
in bundles and put it up in large shocks, although 
raking by a horse into winrows for cocks, might 
answer well for large fields. It must dry for some 
weeks. It can never be safely put into large stacks. 
The most perfect way would be to place it in small 
stacks or long upright rows, under a large shed. 
Even if the stalks appear perfectly cured after 
several weeks exposure, they will certainly heat 
and spoil if stacked in the ordinary way. Hence, 
the stacks must be quite small, freely salted, and 
well ventilated by means of three or four poles 
placed upright in the center. We have found the 
stalks to retain a good condition when left in large 
well made shocks on the field, till wanted in win¬ 
ter. Curing is the only difficulty with this crop, 
and this ceases when understood. 
Land that will yield thirty bushels of corn to 
the acre, will afford about five tons of dried fod¬ 
der. Moist land is better than very dry, as it is 
more affected by drouth than ordinary corn crops. 
We have not found the cost, including interest on 
the land, to exceed $1.50 per ton for the dried 
fodder. 
For soiling, or feeding green, corn fodder often 
proves of the highest value, when pastures are 
burnt by drouth. For this purpose, it may be 
sown at different periods till mid-summer. 
Cost of Growing Indian Corn. 
Mr. Tucker —It is hard to make some of our 
eastern friends believe that corn can be raised in 
the west, at a cost of five, or even ten, cents per 
bushel. The past season, I have cultivated two 
acres of corn and pumpkins, at a cost of $13, in¬ 
cluding cutting upland hauling out of the fields, 
(the fodder will pay the husking)—had 80 bushels 
of corn, w.orth forty cents per bushel at the crib, 
$32; seven loads of pumpkins sold in the field for 
$8.75; ten loads kept at home, at $1 per load, 
$10. Hundreds not merchantable were left on 
the field, but not lost. 
The account stands thus— 
80 bushels of com, at 40 cts. per bushel,.... $32 00 
7 loads pumpkins, at $1.25 per load,. 8 75 
10 “ “ at $1 per load,. . 10 00 
Amount,. $50 75 
Cost of culture and hauling out,. 13 CO 
Balance in favor of the field,.. $37 75 
A gentleman offered to pay all the cost of cul¬ 
ture, &c., for the pumpkins, and take them on 
the ground. Now, if I had done so, what would 
the corn have cost me per bushel? Cypher it up, 
and communicate the result through the Cultiva¬ 
tor. Thurston Wood. North Madison, Jeffer¬ 
son Co., Ind. ,Feb. 7, 1853. 
