Indian Corn, or Maize 



117 



the plants become tall, a one-horse cultivator can be run be- 

 tween the rows. 



57. Harvesting the crop. The method of harvesting varies 

 with the use to be made of the crop. If mature ears are de- 

 sired, they are husked either from the standing stalks or from 

 the stalks after they are cut and placed in shocks. In the corn- 

 belt states, it is a common practice to drive through the field 

 with a team and double-box wagon, husk the ears from the 



FIG. 41. A corn-binder with bundle elevator. 



standing stalks, and throw them into the wagon. Live-stock 

 are allowed to run in the fields after the corn is husked to eat 

 any nubbins left and what stalks they will. Corn that is to 

 be shocked before the husking is often cut by hand with large 

 knives. There are on the market machines that can profitably 

 be employed in cutting the stalks. Of these the most efficient 

 is the corn-binder, which cuts the stalks, binds them in bundles, 

 and either drops them on the ground or elevates them into 

 a wagon driven by the side, as shown in Fig. 41. The bundles 

 are placed in shocks and when the ears are dry they are husked 

 (Fig. 42) and the bundles of stalks (corn stover) are stored for 

 use later in the feeding of live-stock. Corn, when both ears and 



