426 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



Central States the corn binder is very generally used in cutting and 

 shocking corn. In light corn or on level land two horses will suf- 

 fice, but for faster work or heavy corn the use of three or four horses 

 is much more satisfactory. 



In sections where the corn binder is successfully used the prin- 

 cipal objections to its use are the cost of twine, which remains upon 

 the fodder but a short time, and the knocking off of ears in the 

 process of binding. In almost all cases the quantity of corn knocked 

 off by the binder is great enough to warrant driving a wagon over 

 the field and gathering the ears from the ground after the corn is 

 cut and shocked. This is necessary because the presence of the 

 shocks in the field prevents the turning in of hogs or cattle to gather 

 up the ears knocked off by the binder. 



The use of a binder with a bundle carrier saves very much of 

 the hard labor of cutting and shocking, and the greater ease of 

 handling the fodder when bound into bundles of convenient size 

 saves labor enough to compensate for the twine used. 



The stubble cutter should be attached to the corn binder when- 

 ever possible, as the early cutting of the stubs hastens their decay 

 and puts the ground in a better condition for the following crop. 



Shocking. No matter what method is employed in cutting the 

 corn, it is very important that the shocks be made and tied in a 

 manner that will cause them to stand erect and keep the fodder dry. 

 Everyone who has husked corn from the shock in the winter or 

 hauled in shocked corn knows the annoyance and great loss due to 

 poor shocking. It would seem as though anyone would know how 

 to shock corn fodder, and especially anyone raised on a farm. Per- 

 haps every one does know how, but the large proportion of twisted 

 and fallen shocks seen in every locality where corn is grown, espe- 

 cially where it is grown extensively, is conclusive evidence that 

 many do not properly shock their fodder. To this carelessness is 

 due the loss of millions of dollars' worth of stover, to say nothing 

 of the grain that is also ruined. 



The stalks should be stood evenly about the shocks, with just 

 enough slant to make them stand well against the shock. The 

 slight slant they have should in all cases be toward the center of 

 the shock. Too much slant is very objectionable, because in settling 

 the slant increases and causes the shock to take water. The shocks 

 should be tied as soon as they are made. This will prevent them 

 from twisting or allowing the stalks to blow down before they have 

 settled in place. Some prefer to wait until the fodder has cured a 

 few days before tying, so that they may be tied tighter. A much 

 better method is to tie them when first made and in about ten days 

 tighten the ties. For tying the shocks, binder twine is the most sat- 

 isfactory. A half-inch rope some 9 or 12 feet long, depending upon 

 the size of the shocks, with a small well-curved hook made of one- 

 half inch iron rod tied in one end of the rope, is of great assistance 

 both in tying and in tightening the ties around the shocks. The 

 rope is placed around the shock near the top and the ring hooked 

 over, and the rope is then drawn tightly and the loose end placed 



