The Conservative (Nebraska City, Neb.) 1898-1902, May 11, 1899, Page 3, Image 3
- ? CA ' Conservative. case , than were those grown under liold coudifcioiis , yofc the amount of water used in each case was also voiy much greater than when expressed in inches of rain. This year the differences are as strongly marked as they were last , and in the same direction , and tin's makes it desirable to bring them to gether for comparison as given below : With this gnmping it becomes very apparent that the yield of dry matter per aero for the three crops is meas urable proportional to the number of inches of water consumed during their growth. Taking the cases of the crops grown in the cylinders , the nearly equal yields of corn , and of oats in 1891 and 1892 , are associated with nearly equal amounts of water used per unit of area , but the smaller yields are associated with the smaller amount of water. In the case of the barley where the yield in 1892 is nearly double that of 1891 , the depth of water supplied was also uearly doubled. These results point very strongly toward the conclusion that wo rarely have enough water in our soils under natural conditions to realize oven ap proximate possible returns from our laud , and that were wo prepared to ir rigate almost any of our crops at such times as there is a deficiency of water iu the soil , very much larger average yields would be secured. As everyone Icnows , the kernels oi corn are utilized in making meal , brow ers' grits and starch , and iu fatten ing hogs and cattle. There is only little waste in the manufacture of corn into commodities ; but there is on im meuse waste on the farms of a valuabl nutrient which is contained in the corn stover , or , as it is commonly called , corn stalks. Careful computations show that fo every pound of shelled corn there hav < grown one and one-half pounds of con stalks. In Nebraska , where 241,2G8,49 ( bushels of corn were produced iu tin year 1897 at a valuation of moro than 4 millions of dollars , there were therefor produced likewise 10,188,277 tons o stover. The value of this stover as a nutrient is estimated by chemists at $8 per ton. The greatest objection to corn stalks as a food for cattle has always been found in the pith of the stalks. This corn stalk pith , as everyone knows , is a great absorbent. Because of its ab sorbent properties it has been introduced into the United States navy as a pro tection to battleships. Henry W. Cramp , the great shipbuilder of Philadelphia , said in a lecture read before a meeting of the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers in Now York : "By using corn pith , packed in coffer dams , protection is given to the vitals of a vessel and great stability is secured. It does not corrode , but protects the iron and is non combustible. After ex haustive tests at the Indian Head proving grounds on the 10th of June , 1895 , the superiority of the corn pith was demon- trated in a striking manner. As a re- lult , the navy department in its specifi- ations for the battleships Kentucky and Kearsnnje and numbers 7 , S and 0 has nserted a clause requiring the coffer dams of these battleships to bo packed ivith corn stalk pith. " The fact that corn stalk pith or pulp , vill absorb water so rapidly makes it very objectionable when it outers into food for cattle. Every pound of dry pith will absorb from eighteen to twenty- five pounds of moisture in the digestive tract of an animal The animal organ stu is fattened by the quantity of food it digests , rather thau by the quantity which it consumes. Save Nutrition. Everyone understands the imuienso value of the hay crop. All who have studied the forage plants of the United States are posted as to the lim ited uumbfir of such plants cultivated among the formers. Agriculture in the United States needs cheap forage and more of it. In view of this , there can be no inven tion of greater value to the corn-growing region than one which shall properly conserve in its best form corn stover , separated from corn pulp or pith. Up to this time no perfect machine for the purpose indicated has been brought to public notice. It is true that the Marsdeu company of Philadelphia organized some years since and estab lished at Owensboro , Ky. , Rockford , 111. , and Chester , Pa. , some manufac tories which wore intended to utilize this waste product of the corn fields of the country. The Marsdeu company proposed to make out of corn stover a refrigerator lining , tile blocks , water proofing compounds , gunpowder , leather enameling and linoleum. Whether or not that incorporation has succeeded THE CONSERVATIVE is uuablo to state. The Main Ob.jfet. But the main object , or aim , it seems to THE CONSERVATIVE , in the utilization of corn stover ought to be to save its nutrient qualities for the farmer who raises the corn. A machine which shall be not too expensive , not too com plicated and require not too much power , which shall be compact and not occupy much space , and which can be operated successfully by the farmer himself and which shall properly separ ate the pulp or pith from the shell of the stalk , leaving the latter clean and in proper condition for cattle food , would be of inestimable value to every corn- grower and cattle feeder. Such a machine would make every acre planted in corn yield at least a ton and a half of nutritious and easily handled cattle food. TUB CONSERVATIVE is almost con vinced that such a machine has been in vented , patented , constructed and put in operation by a citizen of Nebraska. Prom time to time THE CONSERVATIVE will continue its investigation of corn stover and the poasibility of so utilizing it as to save to Nebraska SO millions of dollars per annum in wholesome , nutri tious and fattening fodder. Till : DK1MOCHATIC 1'AUTY. Lot us face the facts , let us no longer deceive ourselves. The democratic party today is without character and standing iu the nation. It 1ms lost the confidence , if not the respect , of the great body of intelligent , thoughtful men of this coun try. What does the party stand for ? "What arc its principles ? "What man is there iu this party today who can stand up with any sort of confidence and de clare them ? Does democracy stand for imperialism or expansion ? Bryan answers - , swers one way and Jones the other. Does it stand for free silver or the single gold standard ? Bryan and Jones an swer one way ; Crpker and a distin guished member of the national demo cratic committee answer another. Does the party stand for tariff reform or pro tection ? Nobody knows , for the Chicago cage platform declared that that ques tion was retired until the money ques tion should have been settled. Where are the party leaders ? Where are the great men of the past who could upon any occasion , at any timu of the day or night , if called upon , stand up and with accuracy and confidence pro claim democratic doctrines ? There are no leaders , there is no man or sot of men who are recognized today as the mouth pieces of the party. There was a so- called loader of the minority forces in the house of representatives. Ho raised a constitutional question and called upon the democrats in the house to stand by him iu the position that ho assumed , but when the test came moro than forty members of his party voted against him , and ho then and there resigned. Alas for the party of Thomas Jeffer son ! Surely it has fallen upon evil times. It is paying the penalty of the folly of 189(5. ( Every prediction that wo made when it then wont astray has been fulfilled , or is about to be fulfilled. It must reorganize upon a true democratic platform or go to pieces. Gentlemen may mock at this , as they mocked at it in 1890 , but it is the truth. Those who - then forsook the old ship must come < * back to the little baud of democrats who J remained to keep the colors flying , or " be wrecked. Richmond Times.