The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-20
Shedding Endder

Since we have practiced this method
Of securing a portion of our fodder crop
upon our farm, we have learned many
things which aid us in handling this
valuable crop, says George W. Brown
in Ohio Farmer
To get the most value from the fod-
der crop, no matter in what shape it
is fed, it should be secured in ordi-
nary-sized shocks, and husked or
shredded while the fodder Is fresh and
succulent. In order to get this effect
for shredding, we do not care to put
our shocks up larger than one hundred
hills, as they cure out more rapidly.
and the corn can be stored in larger
bulk, as ii must be with this process,
rather than when husked by hand and
cribbed load or two at time
one of the Objectionable features of
this method is the expense, which has
become greatly reduced by the rapid
improvement of shredding machinery
ana as their use becomes more univer-
sal, this objectionable expense is still
curtailed in neighborhood where
teams and hands change work. from
each others farms, thus lessening the
labor account. We use low-down wag-
ons, many OF them made from mower
or other broad-tired wheels) which are
coupled with long reach and fitted
d ~ VI 1o-IOOC rack, thus haul
ing from six to eight shocks, owing to
distance we must haul. and making
the labor of loading much lighter
with an ordinary machine such as we
use mere, driven with Is to 1S-horse
power engine and threshing from 600 IN
900 bushels a day, we find that if NOT
hauling too far, four teams with two
extra men in the field to aid in load
ing, will keep corn enough up to keen
n r~r.lr
team and two wagons fitted with
wagon beds will store the corn easily
ana keep the corn free from husIxs
which are missed by the huskine rolls
ms mas been one of the objection
able features of machine-husked corn
which, of course, makes a crib of corn
look slovenly, and no doubt induces
rats ana mice to harbor among the
corn when they would not were II free
from husks. We find that the nearer
we approach the dent varieties of corn
the more free the job is from husks
and as we have noted that our white
corn. as a rule, husked very much
cleaner of husks than the yellow va
rletles, presumably from the fact that
the husks do not cling so closely to
the ear as on the yellow and smooth
varieties, thus not resisting the husk-
ing rolls so much Therefore we think
that the looser-husked we breed our
corn the more we will aid in clean
ness of machine-husked corn.
However, there are other conditions
which hinder clean work, such as
husking after a rain and freeze, and
While the fodder may be in nice con-
dition yet many of the husks are froz-
en- to the ear and cannot be removed.
one OF the most general causes of
! slovenly work is found in unsteadiness
of feeding, thus crowding the snap
ping and husking rolls beyond their
| capacity. To have a good job of work.
which can be secured with the now
much-improved machinery, the farmer
should see that his hands keep the
| material upon the table with an even
tenor that will allow the man feeding
Tor self-feeder, which ever the case
may be-, to secure an evenness of DOW
er, and not allow the machine TO run
empty at times or become damned so
full. that portion of the ears must
pass through without touching the fin
ishing rolls.
We generally commence shredding
in our latitude about the middle of Oc-
tober, and the sooner the crop is Sc
cured with us after that date, the more
valuable is it to feed. We always
shred the heaviest portion of our crop.
taken from the lowlands, leaving the
lighter fodder from clay or sand knobs
10 Duuule anu STACK, CnuS we OBTAIN
the end desired, and the main object
in shredding to get rid of handling and
feeding so much large bungling fodder
stalks. Otherwise we could not figure
shredding a profitable job with us, I'M
| less we take into accounts the fact
that we have so much nice, fresh, han
dy feed under roof to use during
stormy winter weather. something we
soon learn to appreciate quite as much.
even though the expense account be
| greater than hand husking.
In the consideration Of the feeding
value of shredded fodder we dare hard
! ly to compare 1t with stalks, for 1t
! comes now nearer in comparison with
/ good timothy hay and where we find
| 1t in the city markets alongside of
baled hay, we find it comparing close
/ ly in price. In our mows it is Just as
! valuable when we have learned how