10 



tjrass, or more commonly by means of a stalk of corn or two stalks 

 twisted together; but now since twine has become cheai)er it is 

 extensively used. A rope with a hook at one end is sometimes used 

 to draw the tops together l)efore tying. Sometimes shocks are 

 allowed to stand without being tied. 



After the fodder has become cured, which usually takes about a 

 month, the shocks are generally husked by hand in the field, and the 

 stover is commonly tied into bundles, tho this is l)y no means a uni- 

 versal practise. The stover is then shocked up again. Frequently 

 the stover from two or more shocks of corn is put up in a single shock. 

 For convenience in husking a movable table is sometimes used, on 

 which the stalks are laid while being husked. The ears are thrown in 

 piles on the ground near the shocks, and afterwards hauled to the 

 crib. The stover is sometimes hauled to the barn and stored but often 

 it is left standing in the field till needed for feeding during the winter. 



It is important to 

 choose suitable weather 

 conditions for husking, 

 since if the plants are too 

 dry the stalks will break 

 and blades will fall off 

 and be lost. On the 

 other hand extremely wet 

 weather makes the ground 



Fig. 3.— Wooden horse used to support shock. tOO SOf t f Or liaulmg lU the 



corn. 



The cost of these methods of caring for the cOrn crop varies with 

 the locality and the year. Takmg the average of the replies to 200 

 inquiries, it has been learned that one man is able to cut and shock by 

 hand about 34 shocks 12 hills square, or nearly IJ acres of corn per 

 day. The average cost per shock for cutting by hand is 6.5 cents, or 

 SI. 50 per acre. 



The advantage of cutting the cornstalks and allowing them to cure 

 m the field is strikingly illustrated in an experiment conducted at the 

 Georgia Experiment Station." One acre of land was laid off into 

 52 4-foot rows, and planted in corn. From 20 of these rows the 

 leaves were pulled and carefully cured and weighed. This required 

 the labor of four men during two hours, the cost being 40 cents, or 

 $1.04 per acre. On the same day 16 rows were cut and shocked, 

 which required the time of four men one hoiu", the cost being only 20 

 cents, or $0.65 per acre. The remaining 16 rows were left untouched 

 until the ears were fidly matured, when they were husked and the 



o Georgia Sta. Bui. 51, pp. 280-281. 



