HARVESTING OF MAIZE 



253 



should be taken to reduce their ravages to a minimum by raising 

 the bottom of the crib from the ground, thus reducing their 

 hiding places as well as giving access to cats and dogs. 



342. Maize Foddsr. — In the North Atlantic and Southern 

 States, and in portions of the North Central States, most of the 

 maize is cut and put into shocks or 

 into the silo. This cutting may be, 

 and for the most part still is, done 

 by means of a corn knife, although 

 the corn cutter and the corn har- 

 vester are both largely used, the 

 latter especially where maize is cut 

 for the silo. A machine has recently 

 been invented which cuts and shocks 

 the maize at one operation, but its 

 use has not yet become general. 



From 5x7, or thirty-five hills, to 

 12x12, or 144 hills, are placed in 

 a single shock. The lesser quantity 

 is common in the North Atlantic 

 States, where, according to the Con- 

 necticut Station, it is more difficult to preserve flint stover, 

 while ten hills square, or 324 shocks per acre, is the common 



amount in the North Cen- 

 tral States. A common 

 method is to tie four hills 

 together without cutting 

 them off and then to 

 shock the rest of the 

 plants around these ; while 

 in other cases a wooden 

 horse is used as a temporary support. When the shock is com- 

 pleted, a light rope with a hook on one end is used to draw the 

 top of the shock together, when it is tied with twine or in some 



Husking rolls of maize husker and 

 shredder. 



Maize harvester. Cuts and binds olants into bun- 

 dles, which nnay afterwards be put into shocks; 

 aiso very useful in harvesting maize for silage. 



