340 KILN-DRYING INDIAN CORN. 



The arms are thrown around the tops to bring them 

 together as closely as possible, when the tops are broken 

 over or twisted together, or otherwise fastened, in order 

 to make the stook " shed the rain " as well as possible. 

 In this condition they stand out till sufficiently dried to 

 put into the barn. 



But Indian corn stooked in this way often becomes 

 musty or covered with dust, while the rains often soak 

 it thoroughly and wash out much of its soluble matter, 

 and its nutritive value is in a great measure lost. Be- 

 sides, every one knows that to cut up a green plant, as 

 a willow or any other thriftily-growing plant or shrub, 

 and set it up with the cut end resting upon the ground, 

 where it can still derive moisture from the soil, will 

 prevent its drying. There can be no doubt, also, that 

 the exposure to the sun, wind, and rain, greatly injures 

 it, by removing much of its sweetness, or changing it 

 to woody fibre, while it takes from it its beautiful fresh 

 green color. 



To avoid the losses necessarily attending these modes 

 of curing, some have suggested kiln-drying as far pref- 

 erable, and, on the whole, as economical. I have 

 known the experiment tried in one or two instances 

 with complete success, the fodder coming out with its 

 fresh green color, and apparently better relished by 

 cattle than that dried in the ordinary way. This 

 method appears to me to be worthy of much more 

 extended and careful experiment. The kiln need not 

 be elaborately or expensively contrived. The process 

 of drying would be short, and the labor slight. 



Another mode which has been suggested is to hang 

 it up in sheds open to the air, precisely as tobacco is 

 cured. This process would be longer, but the nutritive 

 qualities of the plant would probably be better pre- 

 served than if cured in the open air, with the exposure 



