The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-09-13
ACRIC ULTURAL.
vaon THs AnERrcAH YAuNsa.
Method ef entnrg'.F Corn. and cracking if TN

~ vaon rHs AnEareAH YAuMsa.
Aesh0d Of enfnUg..F Corn. and sfaekins IL in
she frid, deseribed.
Morc6eld, Hardy County, Va.
Dear S1.--You informed me that
the experiment made in yonr state of
taking the corn of the field with the fod-
der, have not succeeded.
That the corn was subject to rot, if
the weather was warm Or wet; also, that
it increased the labour.
Our method is as follows: We are
prepared with cutting knives made out
of worn out or broken grass scythes--
one cut in the middle will make two
corn cutters--,hc back of the but end
drawn into spike, and piece OF wood
put ON something like sickle handle.
We begin or the side Of our field that
seems to he the driest. A boy goes
betweenthe 9th and 9th rows, and counts
70 the 9Th hill, then ties or locks together
the four centre hills. above the ears,
which four centre bills are not to be cut
but left for support to begin the stack
he then counts on sixteen bills further,
and ties the four hills in the same manner
and SO OH to the end OF the rows, and
field.
The two first cutters take one the
seventh and eighth, the other the ninth
and tenth rows, tie two next cutters take
the fifth ard sixth, and the eleventh and
twelfth---they walk between these rows
and take the corn hill under their left arm,
and cut it near the ground, and cast it
forward, SO as to put five or six bills to-
Qcther the carriers take it and set it
round the four hills tied and lcii standing;
setting it up straight and well, putting as
they can an equal proportion al! round, if
we are doubtful our corn is too green, or
the weather too warm or wet. After the
Grst eight rows are cut and set up, we
begin the next row Of stacks and go on
leaving eight and cutting eight rows
through out our crop--in a few days the
whole stack will be cured we then begin
with the first, ard cur 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 dis
turbing them. In this way, eight hands
will secure three acres per day, the fodder
will be good. We find it better than hay,
so much ofthe saccharinc substance being
retained in the stalks, that large cattle eat
liz to near the ground. Ibelieve that ten
acres saved in this way will be nearly
equal to twenty any other way that we
havc savedit
The part Of our crop that we want for
Immediate use, to iatten pork, &c. we
husk on the stalk. and cot and stack the
fodder, in the same way, only we finish
stacks as we GO. Care should be taken
10 cut near the ground, or the stubs will
be in the way OF cutting the grain with
the cradIe, as there will be some tina, the
harrow will not pull up.
The above method we have practised
for at least twenty years, and could not
keep the stock we do now any other way
There will be found great difference in
corIr The hard white, or yellow flint,
will do to cut mp, when the fodder is
chgrecner and better than the large
deep grained corn. II is also advantage
cous to cut green or young corn, that
will NOT sipen before irost--as much more
will become good by being cut up and
stacked. than will be so ifit is irost bit,
and the fodder will be very fine--it ap-
ears to receive sustenance from the stalk
long after it is cut up.
am, sir, with respect,
Yours, &c.