87 



The iinplcnuMits used for harvestinjj: the corn ])lant havebeen 

 dosorilxMl. An important matter to be decided in preserving the 

 i;reen-corn fodder in the silo is whether the corn ])lants are to be put 

 into the silo whole or cut up into fme particles. The advocates of 

 whole-corn sila*;e claim that there will be smaller losses from fer- 

 mentation with whole than with cut silage. No direct proof is, how- 

 ever, at hand, and the practise followed must be decided by the 

 greater ease of handling the fodder as silage and the relative economy 

 of one system or the other in the opinion of each farmer. The 

 majority of farmers follow the practise of running the corn thru a 

 cutting or shredding nuichine. 



The feed and ensilage cutters used for cutting or shredding corn 

 fodder for the silo and feed for other purposes are of various sizes, 

 from the snudl hand nuichine shown in figure 19 to the large power- 

 driven machine provided with self-feeder and l)lower attachment, as 

 shown in figure 20. The term "fod- 

 der shredder" is sometimes errone- 

 ously applied to the busker and 

 shredder. There is considerable dif- 

 ference between the two machines. 

 The fodder shredder is similar to the 

 ensilage cutter, being provided with 

 feed rollers of large diameter between 

 which the entire corn plant, ears and 

 all, may pass to be converted into 

 fodder or ensilage, as the case may 

 be ; or it can be used to prepare corn- 

 stalks for the silo or for fodder after 

 the corn has been husked by hand. 

 It differs from the ensilage cutter in 



that it is provided with a shredder head, as shown in figure 2 1 , which 

 may be constructed in various wa^^s, but consists usually of a set of saw 

 l)lades so arranged that they will shred the fodder into fine particles, 

 whereas the cutter head is fitted with knives which cut the fodder 

 into lengths ranging from one-fourth inch to 2 inches. These cutting 

 devices are usually interchangeable, so that the user can put into the 

 same machine either a cutter head or a shredder head, as best suits 

 his needs or preference. 



These machines are provided with safety devices so arranged that 

 the feed rolls can be stopt and started at will while the machine is 

 running. This is quite an advantage, as it prevents the sacrifice 

 of fingers, hands, and even of arms. They are also provided with 

 friction safety balance wheels and devices for changing the length of 

 the cut of fodder. 



Fig. 19. ^Cylindrical feed cutter. 



