Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-10-03
Morefeld, Hardy County, Va.

NIGkHod " IUEtHS W to|H ara Stueh-
ing it in Me field, described.
Morefield, Hardy County, Va.
Dean SIR-You inform me that the
experiments made in your state OF taking
the corn off the field with the fodder,
havertlot succeeded.
That the corn was subject to rot, IT
the weather was warm or wet; also, that
it increased the labor.
Orr method is as follows I've are
prepared with cutting knives made out
of worn out or broken grass scythes-
one cut in the middle will make two corn
'cutters--the back Of the but end drawn
into spike, and piece Of wood put on
something like a sickle handle.-We
begin on the side of our field that seems
TO be the driest. A boy goes on between
the 9th and 9Th rows, and counts to the
9th hill, then ties or locks together the
four centre hills above the ears, which
four hills are not to be cut, but left for a
support to begin the stack--he then
counts on sixteen hills farther, and ties
the four hills in the same manner, and
so on to the end of the rows, and field.
The two first cutters take one the
seventh and eighth, and the other the
ninth and tenth rows, the two next cut
tiers take the fifth and sixth, and the
eleventh and tweltth--they walk between
these rows and take The corn hill under
their left arm, and cut it near the ground,
and cast ii forward, so as TO put five or
six hills together the carriers take IT
and set i. round the four hills tied and
left standing; setting it up straight and
well, putting as near as they can an
equal proportion all round, if we are
doubtful our corn is too green, or the
weather too warm or wet. After the
first eight rows are cut and set up, we
begin the next row of stalks, and go on
leaving eight and cutting eight rows
throughout our crop--in few days the
half stack will be cured: we then begin
with the first, and cut and put to them
the last eight rows; when the stacks
have had three or four days to cure, we.
tie them about two thirds of their height
from the ground to prevent the fall winds
from disturbing them. In this way,
eight hands will secure ten acres per day,
and the fodder will be good. We find
it better than hay, SO much Of the sacha-
rine substance being retained in the stalk,
that large cattle eat it too near the
ground. believe that ten acres saved
in this way will be nearly equal to twenty
any other way that we have saved it.
The part of our crop that we want Tor i'm
mediate use, to fatten pork, sc. we musk
on the stalk, and cut and stack the fod-
der, in the same way, only we finish the
stacks as we go. Care should be taken
to cut near the ground, or the stubs will
be in the way of cutting the grain with
the cradle, as there will be some the
harrow will not pull up.
The above method we have practised
tor at least twenty years, and could not
keep the stock we do now any other way
There will be found great difference
in corn. The hard, white, or yellow flint,
will do to cut up, when the fodder is
much greener, and better than the large
deep grained corn. 1t is also advan-
tageous to cut green or young corn, that
will not ripen before frost--as much
more will become good by being cut up
and stacked, than will be so if it is frost
bit, and the fodder will be very fine,
appears to receive sustenance from the
stalk long after it is cut up.
Yours, &c.
DEI CENaInIrD