FARMERS' REGISTER— CUTTING CORN STALKS. 



91 



CUTTING CORN STALKS. 



From the Northern Farmer. 



Amonir the most irrational practices in aofricul- 

 tiinil |)ursiiits, is that of cutting the stalks, or 

 "topping the com," as it is otlen called, het()re the 

 ears of corn are fully ripe. It is dilllcuh to count 

 i'or the origin of the practice. It never was adopt- 

 ed in England, for maize or Indian corn never 

 was cultivated in that countiy. It is possible that 

 in the early settlement of tiiis countiy, some be- 

 gan to cut the green stalks to feed cattle, and the 

 injury to the corn not being perceptible, the prac- 

 tice, by degrees became extensive. At the present 

 .day, farmers consider it as a mark of bad husband- 

 ry, Avhen the corn fields are not top]ied early, or in 

 good season. But regardless of such prejudices I 

 have not topped my corn for several years; and I 

 furthermore say, that I will never consent to have 

 my corn stalks cut, until the corn has come to 

 maturity, or is ready to harvest. I do not know of 

 even a single beneficial purpose, which can be 

 gained by adopting the common practice; and 

 verily believe that, at no distant day, tanners, 

 Generally, Avill condemn the present practice, and 

 feel surprised at the stupid folly which formerly 

 .countenanced it. 



In February 1832, 1 published a few remarks on 

 this important subject, in the New England Far- 

 mer. Other agriculturists had devoted some at- 

 tention to it. Since that time, some fiiir experi- 

 ments have been made, proving conclusively that 

 the present practice is attended with an unneces- 

 sary loss of labor, and a veiy great injury to the 

 corn crops. We advert to the experiment of Wm. 

 Clark, jr. of Northampton, stated in the Northern 

 Farmer of July 7, 1832, by which it appears that 

 the average loss, by cutting the stalks, exceeds 

 twelve bushels per acre; and also that the corn 

 weighs less by one pound per bushel. We wll 

 add that the corn by shrivelling and shrinking, in 

 consequence of mutilating the stalk, will be less. 

 valuable in respect to its flavor. 



The agriculturi.st .should study the operations of 

 nature. He will find these unerring and right. 

 Science enlarges our conceptions and exalts our 

 admiration of the works of the Creator, and pro- 

 claims, at every step, as we advance our research- 

 es into the vegetable as well as the animal king- 

 doms, that "in wisdom He hath formed" the whole. 

 The organic structure of every plant or vegetable 

 is perfi^ct. 



The beautiful foliage of trees, and the broad 

 blades or leaves of the com are as necessary to 

 their growth and existence as are the lungs to the 

 human body. The green leaves emit oxygen, or 

 the \'ital part of the air, and absorb that part, 

 which is injurious to the human health, on respi- 

 ration. If we attentively examine each part of 

 the growing corn, we discover that each part per- 

 forms its natural function, all tending to advance 

 the ear to maturity. The farina, which falls fVom 

 the top at the appointed season in copious efl'usion 

 upon the green silk or tassels, impregnates each 

 kernel of the ear through the medium of the silk, 

 one thread of which is attached to each kernel. 

 But the stalk .above, as well as below the ears 

 contains a sai^charine juice, which gently oozes 

 into the cob, and from the cob into the kernel, and 

 this operation does not cea.se until the kernel is 

 fully ripe. It is not ripe until its inner part be- 



come.? rather hard, or Ja "out of the milk," as 

 farmers say. 



The corn plant derives nutriment from the at- 

 mospheric air as well as the soil. By depriving 

 it of its top and a portion of its blades, we cut on' 

 one source at least of its natural aliment. Such 

 an unnatural practice arrests the natural circula- 

 tion of the sap, whicli flows through the stalk. 

 Some farmers may, perhaps believe, that by so 

 doing, they can turn or force the juices into the 

 ear in a mode more wisely than that already pro- 

 vided by the Author of nature! 



It surely cannot require any great developement 

 of the principles which govern vegetation, to con- 

 vince the enlightened, that the common practice of 

 catting off the corn stalks near the middle, while 

 the coin is in the milk, and while nature is making 

 her efforts to bring it to maturity, must necessarily 

 be attended with the injurious consequences, which 

 fair experiments have clearly demonstrated. 



But is the corn plant the only vegetable which 

 will flourish better under the operation of the dis- 

 secting knife? Try it upon the green potato vine, 

 immediately after the potato has attained its full 

 size. Strip the foliage from fruit trees, so soon as 

 the fruit is fully grown. Try the experiment from 

 a great variety of vegetables. The effect would 

 not be doubtful. Let the farmer enquire, why the 

 com plant should stand in the field as a solitary 

 exception to other vegetables? 



Some fanners think that topping the com expe- 

 dites its ripening, and gives a greater quantity of 

 fodder for cattle. But it is fully ascertained that it 

 will ripen sooner without cutting the stalks; and 

 the tops and spreading blades furnish a partial 

 protection against early frosts. This is admitted 

 by some intelligent farmers, who still approve of 

 "topping." But it seems to us, that this admis- 

 sion in accordance with the fact, tends to support 

 the poshion we have advanced. 



The stalks, if cut green and dried, containing 

 the saccharine juice provided by nature for the ear, 

 may be sweeter; but would they not weigh more, 

 had they been cut afler the corn is fit for harvest- 

 ing. But it is certain, that the whole stalks cut 

 up at once, near the gi'ound, after the corn is fit to 

 gather, will afford a greater quantity of fodder, the 

 under stalks being much heavier than the tops. 

 The "butts" are generally left and wasted in the 

 field. Any portion of these, which the cattle will 

 not eat, ought to be converted into manure. If the 

 cattle have a keener appetite for stalks cut when 

 green, we know that they also very greedily con- 

 sume those cut at harvest time. 



If topping thd not injure the com, there cannot, 

 therefore, be any gain by pursuing the present 

 practice. But this practice is attended by useless 

 labor. 



Some have recommended to cut up the com, 

 when ripe, close to the ground, tie it in small bun- 

 dles, and set it up in small stacl^s by the side of 

 the corn field to dry, and afterwards to convey it 

 to the barn to husk. But we think that in favora- 

 ble seasons, when the standing corn is well dried, 

 or fit for harvesting, it may be more judicious to 

 cut up the corn close to the gi-ound, convey a few 

 loads daily to the barn, spread it well upon the 

 floor, husk it immediately, and put it into a gra- 

 nary made for the purpose, standing on posts about 

 three feet from the ground, properly ventilated. 

 For several years this has been our practice. 



