9 



Fig. 1. — Com hook. 



than that made fioiu tlie shank end, and of better shape. Sometimes 

 a sliank was" made by l)eatmo; and hammering the upper end of the 

 bhide into projxT shape, and sometimes l)y cutting away the thin part 

 of the blade for a few inches. By many these old homemade knives 

 are much preferred to the factory-made knife now almost 

 universally used. The factory-made knives are of all sizes 

 and shapes. The corn hook (fig. 1) now extensively used is 

 generally considered even more convenient than the corn knife. 

 In figure 2 is shown a form of corncutter which is fastened 

 to the boot. This implement is pushed with considerable 

 force against the stalks, severing them close to the ground. 

 It is unnecessary to stoop over the work w^hen using it. 

 Another form of this implement is made so as to be fastened 

 to the forearm. This form is very convenient for topping. 



AMien the corn is cut with a com knife, it is customary to set 

 it up in shocks to cure. Shocks vary greatly in size, ranging 

 from 6 hills square (36 hills to the shock) to 

 16 hills square (256 hills) ; a very common 

 size is 1 2 hills square (144 hills) . Shocks of 

 the smaller sizes are common in the North 

 Atlantic States, where, according to the 

 Connecticut Station, it is more difficult to 

 preserve flint-corn stover; while 10 hills square and 12 hills square 

 are common sizes in the North Central States. A common method 

 is to tie the tops of 4 hills together as they stand, and then to cut and 

 shock the rest of the plants around these. 

 This form is called a four-saddle shock. 

 Another method of making the shock is to 

 use a wooden horse as a temporary support. 

 In either case the shock is built around the 

 support with great care to prevent it from 

 being blown over by heavy winds or dam- 

 aged by rain. In some cases the corn is tied 

 into small bundles w^hich are set together 

 to form the shock; more commonly the 

 stalks are gathered as cut and set up an arm- 

 ful at a time. Where the wooden horse is 

 used, the shock is built about the horse by 

 leaning the first bundles or armf uls against 

 a pair of projecting arms formed by inserting 

 a pole thru a hole bored at right- angles to 

 the horse (fig. 3). Wlien the shock has been set up the pole is with- 

 drawn and the horse removed. When completed, the shock is tightly 

 tied near the top. In the past shocks have been tied with bark or 

 12211— No. 173—07 2 



2.— Foot device for cutting 

 com. 



