The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-01-19

Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
On many well-managed farms the
work of harvesting and storing the
corn crop begins with the filling of the
silo. Corn is one of the best crops for
this purpose, if not the very best.
Sorghum stands dry weather much
better than corn and for dry regions
Is a surer crop, but it is more inclined
to fall down and become tangled than
corn, thus making it somewhat more
difficult to place in, the silo. This diff
fculty is overcome to large extent by
| growing the two crops together, and
| the silage made from these two crops
grown together is usually superior to
| that from either crop grown separate
ly.
| When the silo first came into use it
| was thought necessary to fill 1t with
very green succulent growth. This is
now known to be an erroneous idea,
and the silo is regarded much as a
storeroom or food preserver, the value
Of the silage depending to very great
extent on the nutritive value of the
crop with which the silo is filled. To
this end it is advisable that the corn
shall have reached degree of ripe
ness indicated by rather hard, well
dented or glazed kernels and partially
dried husks before it is placed in the
silo. There is week or ten days when
the ears are in this condition and the
stalks still contain sufficient sap to
cause the silage to pack well in the
silo. 1t is even better to add a little
water to accomplish the latter pur-
pose than to cut the crop before it has
attained its full feeding value.
In some sections the practice of
stripping the blades by hand from the
standing stalks was for years one Of
the established operations in connec-
ton with harvesting the corn crop.
The blades when thus gathered and
well stored furnish an excellent for
age, but there are now cheaper meth
DDS of harvesting without any loss in
quality.
It is still quite a common practice
in some localities to top the stalks by
cutting them just above the ear. By
this method the portion of the stalk
which is eaten by stock most readily
and with least waste is obtained.
When the grain crop is late in matur-
ing, or wet fall weather prevents the
proper drying Of the ripening ears, the |
topping of the corn may be found adj |
visable. If the ears have become hard, |
the kernels dented, and the husks part |
ly dry before the topping is performed, |
no reduction in yield will result. A |
heavy growth of cowpeas may make |
the cutting of the entire plant inn |
practicable and warrant the topping of |
the crop. If the corn Is desired for |
seed, topping will facilitate the drying |
Of the ears and thus make it possible
to select the seed before it is injured |
by freezing. Ordinarily, however, it |
Is found more expensive to top corn |
crop than to cut and shock the entire
plant.
Cutting, Shocking, and Huskino.
Over large areas in the principal
growing states corn is grown pri-
narily for the grain, and each farmer
decides for himself how much of the
,rop will be cut. This is usually de-
by cutting just enough to
eed the animals maintained on the
arm. The chief objection to this
method is that many farmers do not
maintain enough animals to consume
Ill of the corn slower produced. If
he ears are gathered from the stand
ng stalks and no use is made of the |
tower, fully one-third Of the crop is
wasted. The term fodder" is applied
o the entire plant as ordinarily cut {
nd shocked, while the term ''stover" {
) applied to the portion remaining
fter the ears have been pulled or /,
usked. Ii
Generally speaking, there is little I
Inference in cost between husking and {
rubbing corn from the shock and husk- /,
,g and cribbing 1t from the standing 6
talk. In some sections men will husk I
rom standing stalks at lower price /
ham from shocks, but the cost Of
cams, although they are not usually t
cry busy with other work during t
season, must be taken 8
ito consideration. Considering the
Ipense of husking from the standing t
ak and from the shock as equal, 1t +
evident that the slower has been c
,tained for the money paid for hav-
g the corn cut and shocked. This 8
'st Of cutting and shocking is very =
UGH less than the value Of the slower, &
4 b properly stored and fed II lett o