The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-10-05
SAVING THE CORN.
Some Valuable Suggestions Upon
Conserving Great Fodder Crop.

gathered while it contains the larg-
est amount of food elements. There
is a period in ordinary seasons last
ing but a few days in which the
corn ears are ripe and the blades
and stalks are yet green, and this
is the period at which corn should
be cut.
In shocking the corn in the field
the work will be easier and the
shocks will stand up better If
frame can be made as follows: Nail
two pieces of timber one inch thick,
six inches wide and six feet long, to
one end of a scantling two inches
wide and ten feet long. Then bore
a large hole in the scantling about
four feet from the end to which
the legs are nailed and thrust an
iron rod or a strong stick into it.
One end of the scantling is support
ed by the Ike piece; the other end
rests on the ground.
In shocking the corn, put it in the
four right angles formed by the scant-
ling and the iron rod, with the butts
set out we'll at the bottom. Do not
set the bundles too straight, and see
that the corn is evenly distributed
throughout the shock.
For drawing the top of the shock
together use a half-inch rope with
three-inch ring at one end, drawing
the shock up as tightly as possible,
and then tie securely with binder
twine Then pull out the rod and
move the rack to the place where the
next shock is to be made.
If the corn is to be shredded the
sooner it is worked up the better
after it is dry enough to keep in bulk.
If, however, it is not to be shredded,
it should be hauled in before winter
sets in and placed under cover. There
is no rough feed, think, that is SUI
perior to corn fodder when it is prop
erly cared for until consumed.
A great many farmers do not cut
their corn, but pull the ears and leave
the husk and stalks in the field. This
is a very wasteful method. The
stalks and leaves contain over 40 per
cent of the total feeding value of the
corn crop and every farmer should
endeavor to utilize the entire plant.
Where corn is grown in large areas
and is to be put in the silo or shocked
in the field, the corn binder is an alb
solute necessity to handle the crop
successfully. These machines cut the
corn, tie and deposit the bundles in
piles ready to shock, or to be hauled
to the ensilage cutter, thus greatly
lessening the work OF saving the crop.
These machines are profitable for the
small grower as we'll as for the man
who plants large areas.
While on this subject of saving the
corn it will not be amiss to speak
about the selection of seed. AS the
early-maturing ears are best for seed,
it is necessary to 60 out into the field
and pick them in season. Take a sack
and while selecting the early-matur-
ing ears also examine the stalk. Seed
should not be chosen from stalks that
are smutty or that have produced
suckers. strong stalk should be
looked for, one that is thick at the
bottom and gradually tapers, not es-
pecially tall stalk, for height does
not necessarily designate strength.
The best ears of corn will generally
be found on the shorter heavier-set
stalks.
The height of the ears on the stalk
should be considered and in this con
nection it will be found that the early
maturing ears are not those that are
high upon the stalk, but very largely
those that are lower down. 1t is well
to select, as far as possible, those
ears which are at the best height for
husking, which is from three and one
half to four feet.
No ears should be selected for seed
that have not straight rows of deep,
wedge-shaped kernels. The cob should
be perfectly filed from one end to the
other with grains as uniform in size
as possible.
After the corn has been selected
the ears should be tied together and
hung up in the barn or some other
building where free circulation of
air can pass through. The corn
should be allowed to hang there un-
til the approach of cold weather, when
1t should be taken down and placed
IN box and kept in a room during
the winter where it will not freeze.
The corn should not be shelled, but
should always be stored in the ear.
The above advice ought to surely
be in order after the experience of
last year. We doubt if more than