Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-09-23

Systems of harvesting have of late years
been greatly modified. Some time ago the
fodder which cornstalks yielded was thought
to be of little value; of late, however, opin-
ion upon this point has undergone consdera-
BILE modification, and it is now calculated by
some good farmers that corn which will give
SO bushels to the acre will yield two. tons of
fodder to the same area, worth half as much
as the best English hay. Much of the value
of both depends upon the manner in which
they are cured. Every one is aware that corn
stalks are much more difficult to cure than
English hay, and consequently the latter, be-
ing generally better cured, while the former
is frequently mouldy, the hay will have the
better general average value. To know when
to cut the stalks, we must understand when
it would be best to harvest the corn. 1t is a
settled question that both wheat and oats are
best cut before they are dead ripe, or when
they are Just passing out of milk and when
attention is turned to corn, the most observ-
ing and intelligent farmers say that the best
time TO cut it is when some of the earliest
ears are slightly hardened or glazed. This
would leave the most backward ears in the
| milk. When in this condition the corn will
make the most and best meal if properly
cured, and the stalks will make the best for
age. Ignoring the practice of what is called
topping the corn, as being a slow process,
wasting good deal of good feed and not at
oil improving the corn the practice of stock
ing is that adopted by the best farmers When
there is no apprehension of frost, which may
seriously damage the corn, the earliest oppor-
tunity should be embraced TO cut and stock
| it, The best method is the following: First,
bring the tops of two centre hills together un-
cut, and bind or twist them together; then
cut around these, laying each hill in rows
with their butts towards the two hills which
are bound standing; then bind the tops of
these and set them against the two which are
standing, and bind the tops together so that
| they will shed water. Three rows of these
bundles, set around in this way and breaking
the joints of the other bundles, will make a
large stock, and everything but air will be ex-
cluded. BY this method the corn will be fill
ed out and well cured, and the fodder will be
equally well cured, the air having free access.
The larger the Stocks the better the corn and
the less weather-beaten the fodder will be.
The stocks should be well secured on the top,
and care exercised to have them stand per
pendicular, to avoid any possibility of their
being blown down, even in gale. Stalks Sc
cured in this way are bright and free from
mould, and are well relished by stock. One
foddering of stalks per day, with one of good
English hay and one of well-cured meadow
hay with little cotton-seed meal, will produce
fair flow of good milk, or a fair quantity OF
good beef if the object is to fatten the cattle.
The corn may be picked in the field when the
stocks are taken down, and the ears pitched
into light wagon while the stalks are being
loaded upon the hay-rigging. The stalks car
be placed upon the NOW, while the corn may
be husked in the barn. That method we con
slider the best which gives the best corn ant
fodder, and which in backward seasons Sc
cures both the corn and the fodder in the bes
condition. We believe the practice of stock
ing, as described above, will accomplish thes,
points most effectually CuIti0atOr.
Farmers here generally prefer to stock thei
corn around horse made of light, stiff pol
about ten feet in length, standing ON leg
! three feet high at one end, and dragging OF
the ground between the rows at the othe
, end. rod passing through the pole at tn
upper end will keep the corn in place unit
the stock is bound, when it may be withdraw
) and the horse removed and placed in positio
for the next stock. The troublesome necei
8 sity of stopping to cut the standing hills whe
loading the corn ia thus avoided