The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-08-16
CONDUCTED BY B. w. KILGoRE,
USING CORN FODDER.
A Matter that Every Farmer Should Investigate at
this Season of the Year.

than pull the fodder, and know from ten years
experience that it will pay to do so, but do not
believe the many statements going the rounds
that the stalk is worth more than the corn and
others equally as absurd, says a Georgia CORE
spondent of the Southern Cultivator.
In my opinion there is no hay nor r~oughage OF
any kind equal to good bright corn fodder, pulled
and cured the old way, but counting the expense
of pulling and the waste of stalks, it makes the
cost entirely too much. The shredded stalks stand
about half way between good straw and well cured
bright, sweet hay, all of which fall below the
pulled fodder in feeding value. 4
Ten years experience has taught me some les
sons about handling the crop from cutting to
feeding, a few of which I will mention for the
benefit of those who have had no experience.
l.. Let the corn begin to harden before cutting.
1t is all the better if a few brown shucks show oc-
casionally. Do not cut it too early or you will
lose weight in both stalk and ear.
2. When you are ready to cut, let one man 60
ahead of the cutter and tie up foundations for
the shock by bringing the tops of three or four
hills of corn together and twisting them about
each other in such a way that they will brace each
other and thus form a solid foundation. Of
course it will be necessary to select two hills from
one row and two opposite hills from the next
y > W lila d SQudEO IL OTIuSu WuSA lOuT u11IS i
used. If your stalks are not conveniently situated
three hills will do. Do not cut these foundation
stalks, but fasten the tops together as suggested
and around these stalks build the shock by plac-
ing the corn carefully around, slightly leant to the
center.
When four or five armfuls have been placed
evenly around the foundation select a rather
tough stalk and break between each joint so as to
allow the stalk to bend, and bind all together firm
ly about two-thirds the way to the top. Now fin
ish the shock by placing corn evenly all around
until the spread of the bottom is from four to
six feet In diameter. The number of rows for
each shock and the spacing of shocks will depend
on the amount of corn to be ground. Do not un-
der any consideration make very small shocks, as
the exposure to weather causes too much loss.
When the shock is done draw a Irvine string snug
ly around near the top by slipping one end
through a moose and tying with a bow or loop
knot. When the corn has cured a few days go
around and tighten up all the strings, which will
get loose from shrinking of the corn.
3. If your hardware merchant does not keep
them in stock have him order from Louisville or
some Northern market regular corn knives. They
are much easier to handle and more work can be
turned off with them than with any homemade
continuance.
Binder Irvine is we'll suited to tie the shocks.
but if nothing else is available, corn stalks or
crab grass twisted topether will do, but the Irvine
is best and counting time saved, much the cbeap-
est as the strings can be saved and used several
years.
The method of shocking mentioned by several
correspondents, where a bench is used to shock
around, the bench to be withdrawn after the shock
is completed, is not good. Most of the shocks
will fall down. and the man that is caught with