OF AGRICULTURE. 51) 



little meal and water, horses will consume almost 

 every fragment, and thrive remarkably well. 



After topping, the corn is left on the stalks until it is 

 sufficiently dry to cut, It is then pulled off with the 

 shuck still on it, and put into a well ventilated crib, 

 This plan is adopted in most of the Southern States, 

 on account of the depredations of the weevil, and 

 because it is thought to keep in a sweeter and more 

 palatable condition. But in other States the corn is 

 shucked and then put into the crib. A Ijttle salt 

 sprinkled over the corn as it is placed into the crib 

 has a good effect. 



Another method is to out the stalks off at the 

 surface of the ground, as soon as the ears have 

 become hard, and set them up in small stacks 

 (shocks), to be cured by the air which circulates 

 freely through them. In this condition the crop 

 stands till the grain is dry enough to be put into 

 cribs. It is then shucked, generally without being 

 pulled off the stalk. The fodder, including the 

 shucks, is then fed to cattle without cutting. The 

 blades, shucks, and a little of the slender part of the 

 stalks, are eaten, while the remainder is trodden 

 down, and forms valuable litter to become incorpo- 

 rated with barn- yard and stable manure. 



Another plan is that of allowing the whole plant 

 to stand untouched until the corn is ready to bo 

 gathered ; when, after the crop has been removed, 

 cattle are allowed to gather what they will of the 

 standing fodder. In this case, the fodder is of little 

 value. 



These respective methods have their advantages 

 and disadvantages, and the one to be pursued must 



