Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-21
Husk the Corn Early.

In many portions of the West, where
large quantities of corn are produced and
husked from the stalks as they stand in
the field, it stands the farmer in hand to
commence the work as early as the ears
are in condition TO put in bulk without
being liable to mold. The days get short
and the weather cold, making the work
Of husking a slow process late in the
winter The stalks, also, are very apt to
become broken down by heavy winds,
and deep SHOWS cover and bury them up.
Its obvious that delays are dangerous in
this important work.
Ifhusked clean and put into rail pens
there is little danger of damage If dry
enough to begin TO shell little, and if
kept free from the rains by covering of
boards In ordinarily dry fall weather
the drying process may be very much
facilitated by building up two or three
pens at time, thus exposing larger
Il surface Of freshly-husked corn to the sun
d and winds at time, while husking. If
board pens are used they should be made
narrow, as the openings are not so great
as in rail pens.
Pens made of rails should be built up
as level as possible, and the pitch made
for the roof after the proper height is
reached; otherwise the crib will lean
toward the lower side, exposing the oppo-
site side to damage by rains. If farmers
knew how much corn deprecated, both
in quality and in weight, the immense
quantities of it exposed from year to year
in many parts of the West would certainly
be afforded some kind of shelter. If il
even becomes bleached the weight is di-
minished, so that the shrinkage is much
greater, to say nothing of the wastage,
when exposed 10 the changing conditions
Of temperature for long time, in rail
pens, than if properly dried and put into
close bins.
The discussions i'm the Western Rural,
In the past, show something of the speed
gained in performing the work of husk-
ing i'm some parts of the country. We
have no doubt that the speed may be
doubled over the ordinary average of a
days work without adding much to the
physical exhaustion of the laborer A
little quicker motion and little more
precision in the movement of the hands
may Just as well he added from time to
time, so that 100 bushels can be easily
erbbed in day, and possibly $50, as is
fifty bushels at the present time.
This may look large to some, but no
doubt men may be found who will under
take it, with the proper inducement. We
don't believe in overwork with either
head or hands, bat by putting the two
together much may be gained on the part
Of the hands; for this results in what we
call skill; thing the average American
is endowed with to greater extent than
the men of any other nation are on earth
bat more can be gained in this direction.
To assist in supplying this important part
OF the farmers capital is in the province
OF the agricultural press.
IL is economy to have wagon for each
man, with box holding from thirty to
forty bushels, thus saving much time in
unloading. A high board on the oppo-
site side Of the box will preYent the corn
from being thrown over, and an extension
OF the bottom of the wagon box, sloping
up, at proper angle, with sides fitted
in, may be put in place of the end
board of the wagon-box, fastened on by
The use of iron stats, and bolts through
the holes made for the wagon rods. This
makes good scoop-board, saves the hand
ling of the corn with the hands, and en-
larges the size of the wagon-box. If a
large number of men are necessary To
husk the corn, six, with two wagons, can
work TO good advantage; five doing the
husking while one does the unloading
Western RpraS.