CUTTING UP CORN. 251 



be then wisped, it visibly occasions a very pleasurable sen- 

 sation ; as they begin to fatten, the ancient coat falls off, 

 and if this be accelerated by the curry-comb, the better 

 appearance of the beast will well repay the trouble." 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE ECONOMY OF CUTTING UP CORN. 



Thirty years ago, we read a communication of 

 John Nicholas, then we believe of Virginia, on the advan- 

 tages of cutting up instead of topping Indian corn. These 

 advantages appeared to us so palpable, that in the noviti- 

 ate of our farming operations, twenty-odd years ago, we 

 reduced it to practice ; and although since we have occa- 

 sionally adopted the topping system, by way of compari- 

 son, we have made it our general practice to cut up the 

 crop ever since. We are convinced, from our long expe- 

 rience, that it possesses over the old mode the following 

 advantages. 



1. It saves labor. With proper implements, which 

 every farm can furnish without expense, two smart men will 

 cut up and stook two acres, in a day. They cannot top 

 more than one acre, and the stalks are to be bound and car- 

 ried off from the field, or left to be bleached till the corn 

 is harvested, when they have lost half their value. A 

 hill is gathered with a blow, in cutting up ; in topping, a 

 cut must be made upon every stalk. 



2. It adds to the grain crop. We have satisfied our- 

 selves, by careful experiments, that we gain six to ten 

 bushels of corn per acre, by cutting up, above what we 



chaff and straw upon a farm, went to the watering-trough in a short 

 Winter's day, and, that he might not be confused in the execution of 

 his orders, one particular bullock was pointed out for his repo-rt ; ac- 

 cordisig to which, it drank eight times in the course of the day, and 

 the man was convinced, that the rest of the cattle drank as often as the 

 one fixed on. Now, twice a day is generally as often as the cattle get 

 water ; and they are not able, at one or two opportunities, to drink a 

 BUliicient quantity. — Husbandry of Scotland^ p. 100. 



