CHAPTER XI 

 HARVESTING AND UTILIZING CORN 



Methods of Harvesting. The following practices are general 

 in harvesting a part or all of the corn crop. 



1. The whole plant harvested for fodder or silage. 



2. Ears only harvested, the stalks left in the field. 



3. Topping: the tops cut off above the ear while green, so the 

 ear may ripen on the stalk. 



4. Stripping : Leaves stripped off while green. 



In the early history of corn culture in New England, it was the 

 general custom to harvest the entire plant for fodder, and, when well 

 cured, husk out the ears. 



In the southern States the custom early became general of strip- 

 ping off only the lower leaves and " topping " the upper part ; that 

 is, cutting off the plant above the ear. The ear was then allowed to 

 remain on the stalk until mature, then " snapped " off and stored 

 in the husk to protect from insects. The ears were husked as used. 



The above customs are at present the common practices in both 

 New England and the South. The acreage is generally small and 

 the entire crop is saved. 



With the settlement of the present " Corn Belt " States corn 

 culture was extensive from the first. There was no need for coarse 

 forage, so only the ears were harvested. In the Corn Belt only a very 

 small percentage of the stalks is harvested. However, the custom of 

 harvesting a part of the stalks is increasing, especially in dairy 

 regions where corn is used for silage. The shortage of hay has also 

 brought about an increase in the use of corn stover as a substitute. 



Pasturing Corn Stalks. It is the custom in the Corn Belt, also 

 in the South, to turn in cattle, horses, or sheep, during the winter 

 months, on the stalk fields after the grain has been harvested. There 

 is no good data as to the relative amount of forage furnished by an 

 acre of corn stalks, when cut and cured or when pastured after the 

 grain has been harvested. 

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