28 



arrangements for raising or lowering the dividers, and the frame are 

 similar to those used on the corn binder. The table revolves in the 

 direction indicated hj the arrow, and receives its motion from a bevel 

 gear driven from the main drive and meshing into a rack on the outer 

 edge of the table. As the machine advances the stalks are carried 

 thru the opening in the guard band. They are then caught by the 

 spiral plates and the arms and forced around the central post. The 

 arms also revolve, receiving their motion thru the central pin from 

 a gear located just beneath the table. Their motion is somewhat 

 slower than that of the table. The guard or tension springs keep the 

 stalks firmly compressed about the central post. Sometimes the 

 twine is tied to one of the arms and allowed to assist in bringing the 

 stalks toward the center by being wound about them as the arms 

 revolve. This practise adds to the expense of operating the machine 

 and does not materially improve the character of the work. At the 

 outer edge are posts which support the tension springs. 



When the shock is fully assembled on the table it must be tied by 

 hand. The shock may then be raised from the table by turning the 

 crank, and winding the rope about a spool. The shock must be lifted 

 high enough to clear the retaining wall. The tension springs are 

 swung aside and the crank acting on a sector gear swings the shock 

 free from the machine, as shown in Plate I. 



The arms (fig. 17), which are held in a horizontal position by the 

 weight of the shock, are released the instant the rope is given slack. 

 This release of the arms is brought about by a unique arrangement of 

 a cam and pawls. When the rope is tight owing to the weight of the 

 shock, the pawls are held in the grooves of the cam because the 

 weight is carried from the pulley. Wlien the rope is given slack the 

 pawls are no longer kept from slipping out of the grooves in the cam, 

 the shock moves thru a small arc of a circle and drops to the 

 ground. The central supporting post is raised to its position on the 

 machine, as shown in Plate I, figure 2. The whole operation of form- 

 ing, tying, and setting a shock can be done in five minutes. The shocks 

 are somewhat smaller than those ordinarily made where corn is cut by 

 hand or with a binder, averaging about 100 hills per shock, but the 

 smaller size is necessary and makes it possible to reduce the weight of 

 the machine. The smaller shocks also tend to cure more rapidly. The 

 adjustment of the frame admits of the low cutting of the stalks. This 

 results in a greater weight of fodder per acre and leaves a short stubble 

 that is easily turned under at the spring plowing. 



COST AND EFFICIENCY. 



Corn shockers cost about as much as corn binders and weigh approx- 

 imately the same. The wear and tear on the shocker is probably not 

 so great as on the binder, and the former has the added advantage of 



