The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-09-19
Horticultural.
TOPPING AND HARVESTING CORN.

There is much difference of opinion
aud practice among farmers il the mana
cement of their corn crops. Some Away
practice cutting the stalks soon after the
kernels have become glazed or che cked,
believing that such course hastcns the
ripening of the corn and the removal Of
the stalks greatly facilitates the process
of harvesting, and that green cut, we'll
cured cornstalks are much more valuable
as winter forage, for cattle, that the same
would be if left uncut till the corn was
fully ripened, as is the practice OK some.
We presume this is a correct idea. But
experiments made some years since, by
the Hon. w. Clark, of MASSACHUSETTS,
seem to prove that the number of bushels
Of corn per acre was very much lessened
where the stalks were cut, compared with
portions Of the field where the corn was
not topped, but all left till the corn was
fully ripencd. by this experiment, the
loss in grain must hav. been greater than
the increased value of the green cut
stalks over the perfectly ripcned fodder.
But a difference of ten or twelve days
time in cutting the stalks might make a
material difference in the value of the
grain. We think it the safest way for
those farmers that practice stopping"
their corn, to cut their stalks quite late,
rather than few days to soon.
Well cured corn fodder Is a valuable
winter feed for farm stock, and much
care should be exercised in the best pos
sib!e condition. Many farmers are quite
too negligent in this matter. We have
seen the stalks cut quite green, and
many days too soon, bound in large bund
less and put up in large shocks, where
it renamed during all wcathcrs for weeks,
or till the corn was harvested; heavy
winds blue over many of the shocks, and
drenching rains thoroughly wcttcd them,
thus nearly running them as fodder
We have seen others cart them directly
from the field as soon as bound in bund-
les, where from want Of room and care
large portion Of them became mouldy,
and nearly rotten snd worthless. We
know some careful farmers that pursue
quite different course. They do not
top their corn until most of the tops of
the spindlcs are dead, and many of the
husks have lost their green color. They
cut their stalks in warm weather, bind
them in small bundles, cart them to the
barns, and place the bundles astride of
poles extending from beam to beam
across the barn. Here they dry with
out heating or growing mouldy. Ifthey
have not room enough over the barn
floor, they make use of novels or sheds,
in curing them. Those that practice
this method think they are fully compcn-
stated for all extra labor, in the enhanced
value of the fodder.
Many farmers prefer letting the crop
stand till the grains arc principally
glazed, and then cutting all near the
surface of the ground and shocking in
the field, letting it remain there till dry
enough for husking. Some contend the
corn ripens as we'll as if left upon the
separate hills. The fodder, as a whole,
is thought to be worth much more cured
by this method, than by any other pro-
cess. The crop, when thus cut up and
shocked, is placed beyond injury ftom
frost--a matter Of much consequence
some years. There is but little if any
thing gained by cutting and shocking
corn after it has been stricken by frost.
In cutting up the corn as soon as fairly
glazed, the fields can be cleared in sea-
son for sowing winter wheat or rye
sometimes matter Of much conse-
-uonpo