Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1909 — Farm and Garden [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Farm and Garden

CORN AND FODDER TIME Progreulvg Farmers Curs the Crop as They Do Wheat. 1 All through August and far Into the autumn months, according to locality, the corn harvest will be nnder way. tn the south It la called “fodder pulling time.” Wherever corn Is grown the season for gathering It in is always Interesting. There seems to be more sentiment In the corn harvest than in any other. At the same time the Work of stripping corn from the stalk and in stackiug the fodder shocks Is bot«altogether play. The progressive farmers of the northern and middle states are more expert In the saving of fodder than are the farmers of the south. The plan Is simple. They cut down the stalks, blades and all, and cure them in the shocks as many farmers do with their wheat and oats. Many southern farmers have tried the plan of cutting and curing In ihocks and afterward snapping off the ears and shredding the blades and stalks. For a year or two the plan was very popular. It looked as If it would be almost universally adopted. Those who were fortunate In getting first class shredding machines and who exercised ordinary judgment and skill In handling the corn crop in this way were delighted with their experience, and many are still following the practice. For ten or twelve years the Georgia experiment station has practiced the cutting and shocking and shredding, system, aqd this plan is still pursued with satisfaction. One or two years, owing to unusually bad seasone in

September (a rare occurrence) or a little unskillful handling, more or less of the shredded stuff was badly damaged by dampness and heating. When sweet and free from damage the horses, mules and cattle ate it freely, rejecting but a small percentage. Work animals and milk cows are kept in good condition on it, with no other roughage for months at a time. The stalks by this process are out of the way of the sowing of small grain. The refuse stalks are not left to be In the way next spring. The illustration “Cornhusklng Time” is the good old way in all sections, and, although it is tedious, it is always sure. Quality In Farm Labor. The time has come when the barrier known as the contract labor law should be modified so that farmers could hire the right kind of tyrm hands in England and northern Europe, advertising for them in a cooperative way in the foreign farm papers or securing them through American consular agents. First class men could be obtained if they could be legally promised jobs in advance. As It is now, only a few of the best class care to run the chances of coming over with no definite prospect In view, and the bulk of our immigration is not well suited to labor on northern farms. Importation of trained, reliable help from northern Europe would help to solve the immigration problem and that of farm labor as well. Sift out the low grade immigrants, but take down the bars against those who make the best kind of raw material for citizenship. Value of Cowpeae. The cowpea Is a large beanlike plant that produces a large amount of forage. It is valuable for a green fpod or for plowing under for green manure. It has been used successfully for improving wornout soils, especially those that are light and sandy In texture. Its greatest advantage for this purpose is Its ability to gather nitrogen from the air and mineral elements from subsoil. When the crop is plowed under these are left near the surface, where they will be available to shallow rooted crops and those which cannot get nitrogen from the air. It has been little used for hay in the north, because it cannot be readily dried in this climate. It makes a good green feed for milk cows between Aug. 15 and be preserved in the silo by mixing with corn fodder. Pumpkins For Fall Feed. It will pay to sow plenty of pumpkin seed. Pumpkins are one of the best fall and winter green feeds for almost all kluds of stock, especially dairy animals. They are especially relished by hogs and cows, and they are excellent to mix with dairy feed for the production of milk, the cows relishing them greatly. , > Baskets For Barrios. In making provision for the crop of red raspberries order pint baskets instead of quarts. The fruit carries much better in the smaller package, and profits are generally larger. The oblong pint basket may be used in thi ordinary thirty-two quart crate.

CORNHUSKING TIME.