Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-09-30
AGRICULTURAL.
'COrnstalks and Seed corn.

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topped. There is more juice in thu
butts Of the stalks than in the top
most portion, and the watery portion
must be we'll dried cut or the stalks
will mould if they are packed togeth'
.er in quantities. The upper portion
of the stalks, if bound up into small
Bundles and placed in stocks, viii
usually be fit to house in two or three
weeks, while the whole stalks require
much longer time, especially if they
are large and bulky. The stacks or
stocks should not contain mere than
twenty-five hills when the crop is
good, aud they should be set evenly
around the standing hill so that the
stock will not fall down. The ears
will dry quicker and brighter when
left on the hill as they are when the
corn is topped. Topped corn always
husks easier as the husks open, and it
is easier to get at the ear. Many
farmers prefer to cut their corn up at
the root, so that it can be drawn int
the barn and husked under cover
They also estimate the husks to be
tJo valuable to leave to dry up and
waste in the field. When corn is
topped the ears may be snapped of
and taken into the barn and huskeG
there and the husks saved, but they
are not 50 handy to handle as wher
the sta ks are left whole.
Long cornsta ks are a bother when
thrown cut with the manure, on &C
count Of tangling the manure fork,
and on this account corn is often top
ped to reduce the length. Some pains
taking farmers run their cornstslks
through a straw .c'rttei to make them
fine for the manure pile, and so that
the stock will eat more of them. II
hardly pays the cost. They may he
broken UP and made more palatable as
well as fine for the manure heap, by
running them through a threshing
machine which tears them into little
bits. An ordinary three horse thrcsh'
ING machine will also hNsk and shell
tie corn if the stalks and ears are run
through it. When this is done the
corn should be very dry or it vi !
mould unless carefully spread and
turned. Ccrnstalks may be packed
or moved together in large quantities
If layer Of dry straw is pat between
each layer or bundle. The stalks will
:mpart to the straw a sav(ry smell
and make it liked better by the stock
Stalks should never be put into q NOV
when damp, or they will surely mould
and be injured. Sweet, well cured
cornstalks are eQua, to good hay for
fodder, and will make more milk than
hay. They are laxative IN their ma
ture snI hence, eEcellen to feed with
hay or grain. More fodder may be
obtained by cutting corn up at the
roots and better ears by topping it
The best course tofcilos depends upon
the wants Of the farmer.
The best seed corn can be obtained
from the topped corn, as there is then
no dagger Of its being heated or get
ting mouldy, and il left in the field
late it will be too dry to be injured by
freezing. Seed corn can be safely
gathered from 4 topped field almost
any time if it is kept dry afterward,
but when the corr is to be cut up at
the root it should be gathered bof0re-
hand. In this case-and it is a good
rule always-the earliest and bright.
est ears should be selected, and those
we'll field out at the Ii ps. Seed ears
ought always to be taken from stake
which have two ears on them. BY g.
carefal and continuous selection OF
the earliest ears, and those most per-
feet, the variety may be made earlier,
and by taking only from stalks with
two ears a propensity or nature may
be established in the variety to pro-
duce two ears. I know Of farmer
who followed this coarse to shorten
the ripening season Of his corn, (smut
white, an early sort, J fully ten days,
and nearly every stalk bore two ears.
Freezing and thawing Injuries seed
corn when it is wet, hence the sooner
in autumn it is gathered and made dry
the more likely it is to grow. 1t
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