Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-09-17
Harvesting Corn.


ing to maturity in the warm days of early
autumn, will soon call forth the labor Of the
harvester Nature has been bountiful. The
farmer who has poor crops this year has
himself to thank. The cool, backward spring
has been succeeded by abundant heat and
moisture. Crops which were well manurod,
scasonably planted and faithfully cared for,
cannot fail to make good returns.
The corn crop was planted late and chilled
by cold weather for weeks, but its later
progress has been very satisfactory, and, uD-
less early frosts interpose, the crop will be
good in quality as well as very large. This
is true of New England and the west AL.
ready on many meadow farms in New Eng
land the cutting up has begun.
1t was the rule ofone Of the most successful
farmers of our acquaintance to begin to cut
up corn when the kernels are half glazed. He
said the yield Of corn was very nearly if
not quite as heavy--and he was inclined to
the latter belief--as when il was suffered to
stand until the husks were all white. The
fodder cut at that period contained larger
proportion Of sugar and starch, and was
a very rich and valuable winter food for
stock. Dairymen often say that with bright,
early cut corn fodder, cows will mako bet
ter quality and larger quantity Of butter in
winter than on good hay. Oue farmer said
he considered the corn fodder from an acre
worth as much as ton Of hay.
To obtain these results tho crop must be
cut before the succuent juices are all turned
to woody fber. The corn always appears
to ripen from the juice in the stock when
cut before it is entirely glazed. We have
noticed that ears broken off at this period
aud hung up to dry show a shrinking aud
shriveliug of the kernel, while those remain
ing on the stock, cut up at the roots, fill
out and dry of plump.
The old way Of topping corn is almost
entirely superseded by moro economical
treatment. Very rarely now ow-a-days is seen
field owned by farmer whose ideas ad.
NIT Of no such thing as progress, with the
top stalks removed, and the butts and husks
which constitute the bulk Of the fodder
bleaching for weeks exposed to the weather
The common way at present is to set 60 RI
up in stooks-either around hill or around
a jack. When setting around a hill it i:
usual to put either three or FIVE rows in q
row Of stocks. If tho growth is very rank
and it is desired to make the stocks sma II
three rows are enough The objection Il
this way is that the center hill continues
green and must be cut up at husking. WheI
set around jack there is no green hill anc
no after cutting, but the stocks do not stant
as firm, and are liable to be upset in storms
To make corn jack take smooth pole
ten feet long and three inches in diamete
at the butt, bore two one-inch holes near th'
butt for legs. The legs should be three fee
long told broom handles make good ones)
aud the feet should stand two and a half fee
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