Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-08-31


Cutting up Of corn is usually delayed
too long. Frost seriously damages
the fodder, and as the feeding value of
this is equal to at least fifteen or twon-
ty bushels of corn per acre, ii is worth
saving from damage by early harvest
ing. The grain is ready to be gathered
ed before the stalks are ripe and dead.
The stalk and leaves contain q large
amount of sap, which will 90 to com
plete the growth of the grain whether
1t is standing or has been cut for at.
ter the leaves begin TO turn yellow the
functions of the roots are ending and
the plant takes nothing moro from the
soil. As soon, then, as this has occur.
red, the corn may be cut and after
the first sere and yellow leaf is seen
delay is dangerous, and may be injuri.
Gus. When the grain is completely |
glazed over it may be cut, and this
happens before leaf has turned color,
unless the weather has been so dry as
TO affect the growth and ripen the
plants prematurely. In gathering the
crop, the lower the stalks are cut the
better, for several reasons; the weight
of the harvest is increased, and the re. |
fuse left upon the field is less trouble.
some in plowing and narrowing the
stubble afterward. The latter is wor.
thy Of more consideration than is usu-
ally given to it, and the narrowing of
the soil and the harvesting of the fol-
lowing crop are frequently. greatly in.
teriered with by loose corn.roots, with
foot or more of dry stalk attached,
which clog the harrows and incumber
the reaping implements or machines.
II the stalks are cut low, the roots
may be buried out Of reach of the
harrow, and give no further trouble.
When the stalks are cut it will be
found advisable to put up small shocks
rather than large ones. Twenty-Five
hills will make shock large enough
for convenience and small enough TO
enable the stalks and ears to cure
thoroughly in ten days or two weeks.
If the shocks are made larger, time is
lost in carrying the stalks TO the
shock. With twenty-five hills the
shock will be in the centre of square
of fifteen feet each way. There will
then be no necessity to travel more
than five or six feet, at the most, to
gather the shock, and much loss of
time and labor will be saved. The
usual manner OF leaving hill uncut
as foundation for the shock is not to
be commended. The shock may be
built as firmly without this as with it,
by simply spreading the base, planting
each side firmly in the ground, and
tying securely with bands of damp rye
straw. The tying is the chief point
unless the shock is firmly bound Il can.
not stand firmly, and large portion
of the crop will 60 down at the first
squall, and will generally lie soaking
on the ground until husking. Much
avoidable loss occurs in this way,
through simple neglect in binding the
shock. Rapid curing brings on early
husking. Early husking avoids much
really painful, but generally selfinflict.
cd, exposure to cold and wet in the
field, which follow husking so late as
November, when the bulk of this work
is actually done. The farmer who has
bis corn in the crib and his cornfodder
under roof or in stack before the end
Of October may be counted forehanded
and happy. And there is no good rea.
sou why he should not be 80. If tho
corn is well cured in the shock il will
be saving Of much time and labor to
husk into baskets and TO empty these
directly into tho wagon.box, so that
the corn may be cribbed without any
further handling. The stalks may
also be hauled directly TO the yard
where they may be stacked, put under
the roof OF barrack, or stored away
in an airy place IN the barn. A fair
husker should be able to husk at least
40 bushels per day, and many will do
twice as much. With two wagons,
one being loaded and one being hauled
to the crib, and with FIVE or six husk.
ers, team may be kept reasonably
busy hauling corn, and in any possible
intervals Of waiting for corn load or
two Of stalks may be hauled in. II
will be a further saving of time If the
small and unsound corn is thrown into
bags in tho field, that il may be car.
ried in BY itself and kept separate
from the rood corn, In stacking or
moving the stalks, ventilators may be
usefully placed in the centre OF tho
mass, by which any dampness remain
ing in them will be carried off A
very good ventilator may be made by
setting up few rails tied in a bundle
in the centre Of the stack the rougher
tho rails the better they will be for the
purpose. Or three rails or poles may
be fastened together by q few cross.
pieces so as TO form a sort Of nue or
chimney in the NOW or stack from the
bottom to the top; this will keep an
open space Of at least foot wide for
the escape of warm or moist air, and
will prevent the mildew, which is 30
prevalent in cornfoddcr. Any smutty
stalks that may be found should be
thrown on one side, and gathered to-
getber and burned. The smut is un.
doubtedly poisonous, and should never
be given 10 cattle, more especially 10
cows that are in calf-N Y. Times.