CORN HARVESTING 195 



As each armful of plants is cut, it is carefully placed on 

 the shock in a nearly upright position. Some farmers 

 prefer to cut first the rows adjoining the shock row, so 

 that after placing the plants from these rows on the 

 shock, a few minutes are allowed for these to dry slightly 

 before the layers of plants from rows farther out are 

 added to the shock. 



In the South shocks should not be very large, but should 

 usually contain between 150 and 200 plants. One that 

 is too large is liable to fall and to result in the molding 

 of some of the immature ears in the center of the mass. 

 A very small shock, on the other hand, exposes too 

 large a proportion of its forage to injury from sun and 

 rain. 



The shock (Fig. 94), when completed, should be tied 

 tightly with binder twine, about two feet from the top. 

 The shock can be drawn together by a short rope, in one 

 end of which is a hook. The other end of the rope is 

 passed through this hook and by means of a slip-knot 

 the shock is tightened while the string is being tied. About 

 ten days later, after the plants have settled together, the 

 tie should again be tightened in the same way. In making 

 shocks, great care must be taken so to construct them that 

 they will not later fall. This is best done by care in placing 

 the plants against the shock, an equal number on all sides, 

 and in a nearly upright position, and by keeping the top 

 of the shock from twisting, when pulled together by a 

 rope. 



The corn should stand in the shocks or in a rick at 

 least one month before it .will be dry enough to be 

 shredded. 



