Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-09-12
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
LEARNING NEW WAYS.
cutting Corn and Sorghum by machinery
90 and Saving Fodder.

cutting Corn and Sorghum by Machinery
aud Saving Fodder.
The farmer of the south is rapidly
learning to save his entire corn crop
by cutting the corn when it has just
passed out of the roastingear, and
shocking in the field, or putting II into
the silo for winter use. The reason
why this is more generally practiced
than formerly is because we can no
longer afford to pay labor to pull the
fodder from the stalk, to use it as hay,
md we know that il nothing but the
grain of corn is saved, that forty per
cent. OF the feeding value OF the entire
crop is lost in the stalk and blade.
Another thing which has discouraged
the use Of corn as fodder TO great eX-
tent is the certain information that
different food is removed in the way
of fodder, which is lost to the ear of
corn, and we have our labor for our
pains with the satisfaction of knowing
thatlwe have some roughness on hand
for feeding. aie., I'D .ttj.i
Shocking corn is not popular IN the
eastern southern states, because OF the
frequent heavy southern rains that
cause the corn to rot in the shock be-
fore 1t cures thoroughly, This does
not always happen, but it occurs oc-
casionally, and discourages this
method of harvesting the corn crop.
In the southwest there is not so much
danger from rains, and shocking the
corn in the field is more generally
practiced than elsewhere in the south.
The labor of cutting corn with the
| old-fashioned knife is severe, and for a
number of years the inventive genius
OF our Yankee neighbors has been
| turned to the production of corn harv-
esting machinery. The cheapest and
simplest form of corn harvester con-
sists of a sled 21S feet wide and about
feet long, with projecting steel
wings, the front edge of which slope
to the rear at an angle of as degrees
These wings are some IS inches in
width. A mule drawing this sled be-
tween two rows OF corn brings the
sharp edges OF the steel wings against
the corn butts of both rows just above
the ground and cuts them quickly. As
the corn is cut two men riding upon
the sled catch the corn and throw it
into heaps behind the harvester. This
sled, with its wings, can be made in
any ordinary carpenter shop, or it can
be ordered from hardware houses OF
this state. This machine, using two
men, will easily cut ten acres per day.
There are other more expensive ma
Chimes, complicated in pattern, and
working upon different principles,
some of which will do nicer work than
will this simple sled. Some of them
have greater capacity per day, and
nearly any of those now being largely
advertised in agricultural papers are
reliable, and will work if given fan
conditions.
Since the sorghum crop has become
of Such Importance upon the farms o.
| Texas, the question of how to cut il
when planted in drills is one OF increas
ing interest. The simple machine de
scribed above will cut drill sorghum
with ease and satisfaction. In this sec
ton of the state we prefer TO cut drill
sorghum, throwing it into gavels be
hind the machine, let it take the sur
for day, and then turn each gave
over, and after another days sun haul
the sorghum and stack it in long riclSs
where it may be fed later in the season
This method of handling does not mi,
up the stalks, but allows them all to lay
straight. makes the hayeasy to handle
and saves the fodder in the best posi-
BILE condition. Sometimes the SECOND
growth of sorghum Is so short whel
rain is lacking, that the stalks ar
light and low, and the machine tina
we use at this place will not do tn
best work. In this case we depend up
on an ordinary moving machine.
Ihave gotten some inquiries askin.
whether or not this station can suppl,
corn harvesters to purchasers ] talk
this opportunity to say we are not i
the implement business, and can no
afford to give our time to work Of thi
character The reliable rimplemen
dealers of this state can furnish an
OF these tools that may be desired
They are certainly great labor saver
when corn or sorghum crop is to b
cut off of the land. college Station
Texas