Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-14
Cornstalks and Seed Corn.

by Col y. D. Cufts.
III takes corn and the cornstalks
longer TO dry, or cure, when cut up
by the roots than when the corn is
topped. There is more Juice in the
butts of stalks than in the topmost
portion, and the watery portion must
be well dried out or the stalks will
mould if they are packed together in
quantities. The upper portion Of the
stalks, if bound up into small bundles
and placed ia stocks, will usually be
tit TO house in two or three weeks,
while the whole stalks require a much
longer time, especially if they are
large and bulky. The stacks or
stocks should not contain more than
twenty-five hills when the crop is
good, and 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 at
the root, so that it can be drawn into
the barn and huskcd under cover.
They also estimate the husks TO
be too valuable TO leave to dry
up and waste in the field. When
corn is topped, the ears may be snap
ped off and taken into the barn and
husked there, and the husks saved,
but they are not so handy TO handle
as when the stalks are left whole.
Long cornstalks are a bother when
thrown out with the manure. on ac-
count Of tangling the manure-fork,
and on this account corn is often
topped 10 reduce the length. Some
painstaking farmers run their corn
stalks through a straw cutter 10 make
them fine for the manure pile, and SO
that the stock will eat more of them.
1t hardly pays the cost. They may
be broken up and made more palata-
ble as well as fine for the manure
heap, by running them through a
thrashing machine which tears them
into little bits. An ordinary three
horse thrashing machine will also
husk and shell the corn if the stalks
and ears are run through it. When
this is done the corn should be very
dry or it will mould unless carefully
spread and turned. Corns,alks NAV
be packed or moved together in large
quantities If layer of dry straw is
put between each layer OF bundles.
The stalks will impart to the straw a
savory smell and make it liked better
by the stock. Stalks should never
be put into a NOW when damp, or
they will surely mould and be iniur-
cd. Sweet, well-cured cornstalks are
equal TO good hay for fodder, and
will make more milk than hay. They
are laxative in their nature and hence
excellent to feed with hay or grain.
More fodder may be obtained by
cutting corn up at the roots, and bet
ter ears by topping it. The best
course to follow depends upon the
wants of the farmer.
The best seed corn can be obtained
from the topped corn. as there is
then no danger Of its being heated or
getting mouldy, and il left in the
field late it will be too dry 10 be in
jured by freezing. Seed-con can be
safely gathered from a topped field
almost any time if it is kept dry
afterward, but when the corn is TO
be cut up at the root il should be
gathered before hand. In this case
and it is good rule always-the
earliest and brightest ears should be
selected, and those well filed out at
the tips. Seed ears ought always to
be taken from stalks which have two
ears on them. BY a careful and con-
tinuous selection of the earliest ears,
and those most perfect, the variety
may be made earlier, and by taking
only from stalks with two ears a pro-
pensity or nature may be established
IN the variety 10 produce two ears.
know of farmer who followed this
course 10 shorten the ripening season
of his corn, (smut white, an early
sort,) fully ten days, and nearly
every stalk bore two ears. Freezing
and thawing Injuries seed-corn when
1t is wet, hence the sooner in autumn
1t is gathered and and made dry the
more likely it Is to grow. 1t should
be twisted" or braided together by
the husks and hung up in some dry
room or out doors in the sun for a
few days, after which it may be put
away in dry place where it will not
be molested by rats or mice, and
kept till planting time. We always
cut up our corn, as We want all of the
fodder.
EVERY farmer knows that exposing