276 BOARD OF AGKICULTURE. 



when allowed to ripen upon the growing stalk. In fact, I 

 have heard that statement made alread}^, but have never 

 heard any reason given which seemed at all satisfactory. Of 

 course, if the crop is late in ripening, and there is much 

 danger from frost, it will be the better course to cut and 

 shock, for by that means you save the grain and the fodder 

 at the same time. 



But every intelligent farmer will, after experience, be 

 able to judge what method is best for him to follow ; but I 

 would take that course which seems to give the best results, 

 both in the grain and in the stover, even if more labor is 

 required. From the same book already quoted I take 

 another paragraph : — 



"The time for topping is when you, upon stripping 

 the husks, open a little at the tops of the ears, find the 

 grains to be hard, — not hard enough to grind, but hard 

 enough to resist the strong pressure of the thumb nail. A 

 second criterion is, all the farina having quitted the tassel 

 and the tassel having become dead and dry. A third is, the 

 perfect deadncss of the silk ; where, instead of the bright 

 green that appeared before, hanging gracefully down, 

 you will perceive it to be a little contemptible bunch 

 of withered-up and brown-looking stuff. When all these 

 signs appear, the top and the blades have performed their 

 office, and the sooner they are taken away the better ; 

 because after this they do no good, and only serve to retard 

 the ripening of the ears by the exclusion which they cause 

 to the sun and wind. These tops are now a precious deposit 

 for the winter, and weight for weight will give more nutri- 

 ment to cattle than hay." 



This estimate of the value of well-cured corn-tops, 

 though somewhat ancient, has been substantially corrob- 

 orated by the statements of members of this Board, and by 

 experiments by a no less careful man than Hon. George S. 

 Boutwell, who published the results in the "Ploughman" 

 some years ago. 



A suitable and convenient place for storing and drying 

 the corn after it has been husked is indispensable on every 

 well-regulated farm. If it is spread upon a floor it must of 



