The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-12-09
Husking Corn.

Husking Corn.
Al this is just in themidst OF the corn
harvest, a glimpse at the progress in
corn gathering in the past half century
may be interesting to our readers
who are now engaged in this pressing
employment. We do not propose con-
trasting the present with the practice
in New England fifty years ago, but
with the universal manner In which 1t
was done in Ohio, Kentucky and In
diana. the then principal corn-growing
States. @
Fifty years ago it was the universal
practice for the hands to go into the
field without team, and snap OFF the
corn with the husks on, and throw 1t In
small heaps in a way that a wagon and
team could pass between the heaps.
The next day it was gathered up by
hand and deposited in the wagon.
Then it was hauled to some clean lot, a
grass plat being preferred. and thrown
out by hand in pile about ten feet
wide and five feet high, and as long as
the quantity of corn would make. in a
long rick. We say it was thrown out
by hand, for the reason that the SCOOP
shovel was unknown at that period.
The writer is not mistaken in this fact
as he was actively engaged in this
business, and frequently visited Cincin-
natl, the then headquarters for hogs
and corn in the United States. The
corn in the ear was then thrown out of
bare hands. And if such things as
either wheat or corn, they would have
been used there. The corn having all
been hauled and thrown in long rick,
the neighbors, old and young, male
and female, were all invited to q husk-
ing. This was not an occasional in
stance in a neighborhood, but general
and its absence was the exception.
These were the great occasions for the
meeting and enjoyment of the young
people. The huskers gathered early in
the evening, and proceeded to work
and amusement. Sometimes the par
ties divided off in knots or coteries to
suit their notions, and budding them
selves down in the husks beside the
corn pile, Piled their fingers while they
sang songs or told stories, interspersed
by the frequent passage along of liquid
refreshments. The corn was thrown
over the rick in front in pile while
the husks were thrown behind. In this
way the evening passed off pleasantly
and frequently profitably.
At other times, after the husking had
progressed quietly for while, there
would be successful proposition to
divide the pile by laying poles or rails
across the middle of the rick as disin-
terested judges could ascertain. Then
two captains were selected, who took
their positions each side of the dividing
poles or rails; then they chose alter
nately the huskers, who came as they
were chosen to the side of their Cap
tain. The most serious objection to
this was that it frequently separated for
few hours the dear ones who always
love to be near the idol of their hearts.
But then the contest began to test the
abilities of the respective parties under
their chosen Captains to see which
would husk their pile first. And then
began the system of fraud and cheating
which is more extensively carried on
latterly in office hunting and Office
holding. In order to expedite the OPP
erations, much of the corn was thrown
forward half husked or not husked at
all. 1t was frequently thrown back
among the husks, and the next morning
the farmer would see sorry sight OF
mixed corn and husks in both piles
rear and front. And it took more work
to pick the corn from the pile of husks
and to husk that which was thrown
over with the husked corn than it does
now to husk the corn in the field and
crib it. A wagon was drawn alongside
of the corn pile. the corn gathered up
by hand, cleaned of husks and thrown
in the wagon, then hauled to the crib
and thrown out again by hand. And
work in gathering and cribbing corn.
which was finally hauled long distances
and sold for six cents per bushel, it
took the people generation to learn
better way.
Probably by eleven or twelve o'clock
at night the work of husking was ac-
complished. when supper would be an
nounced. This was usually of a very
substantial character, and with few
things of what would now be considered
delicacies. The invariable chicken pot
pie, generally made in a large sugar
kettle. was the staple article on such
occasions. With the healthy digestive
powers and sharpened appetites then or
now no more appropriate dish could be
provided. And the company made
such quantities of it disappear as would
astonish some of the dainty stomachs of
more modern times. After supper the
room was cleared of everything which
would be in the way for O few hours
dance. In those days the houses were
not supplied with variety of rooms, so
the beds, chairs and tables had to be re-
moved, which could be done in a verv
few minutes without danger of injuring
the varnish on the furniture. Then the
young folks as well as some older ones
had a good time, equal in real enjoy
ment to any of the fashionable racquets
of the present day.
But gathering and husking corn in
that way, with present prices of labor,
would cost at least one dollar per
bushel. And yet we recollect that corn
from 1920 to 1928, in the interior of
Indiana, seldom sold for over six and u
quarter cents per bushel. Some old
men banker for the return of the good
old primitive days. But save US from
the dark ignorance and intolerable
burthen of those days. The world is
growing brighter and better. The
farmer is rising in intelligence, and
emerging from the servitude of those
darker days. --lo0a State Register.
WE often see, when passing along a
country highway. moving machines,
hay rakes, wagons and other farming
utensils lying out. exposed to the
weather. Sometimes this is because
the owner has NO convenient place for
them, and at other times it is through
negligence, but whatever the cause it is