Middletown transcript., 1917-01-13

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
ficulty 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
iy.
When the silo first came into use 1t
was thought necessary to fill it with
very green succulent growth. This is
now known to be an erroneous idea,
and the silo is regarded much as
storeroom or food preserver, the value
Of the silage depending to a 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 a 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 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
ods Of harvesting without any loss in
quality.
1t is still quite 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
ano 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, th.'
topping Of the corn may be found ad-
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 1m-
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, 1t
Is found more expensive to top corn
crop than to cut and shock the entire
plant.
Cutting, Shocking, and Huskins.
|
corn-growing states corn is grown pri-
marily for the grain, and each farmer
| decides for himself how much of the
crop will be cut. This is usually de-
termined by cutting just enough to
| feed the animals maintained on the
| farm. The chief objection to this
method is that many farmers do not
maintain enough animals to consume
all Of the corn stover produced. Ii
the ears are gathered from the stand
ing stalks and no use is made of the
s.over, fully one-third of the crop is
wasted. The term fodder" is applied
to the entire plant as ordinarily cut
and shocked, while the term "StOver'
is applied to the portion remaining
after the ears have been pulled OF
husked.
Generally speaking, there is little
difference in cost between husking anC
cribbing corn from the shock and husk
Ing and cribbing it from the standing
stalk. In some sections men will huSl
from standing stalks at lower price
than from shocks, but the cost Of
teams, although they arc not usually
very busy with other work during
corn-husking season, must be taker
Into consideration. Considering the
expense Of husking from the standing
stalk and from the shock as equal, Il
is evident that the stover has beer
obtained for the money paid for hav
Ing the corn cut and shocked. This
cost Of cutting and shocking is yer!
much less than the value of the stover
If it be properly stored and fed. If lef